Federal Funding Revoked for Transformation Project in Fort Worth: NEA Withdraws $110K Following Trump Administration's Decision
In a Startling Turn of Events, Government Funding Cuts Strike Cultural Hubs
Looks like the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is yanking the purse strings, claiming a sudden change in grantmaking policy priorities, leaving cultural institutions across North Texas high and dry.
Transform 1012, the brave heroes fighting for a transformation of a former Ku Klux Klan auditorium into a vibrant arts and culture sanctuary, find themselves about a cool $35k lighter, as their grant related to the building design has been yanked. The Welman Project, an educational gem providing free resources for educators, also just lost $74,900, which would've funded a community makerspace and tool library within the auditorium.
As the list of affected North Texas institutions grows, it's clear that something fickle is going down. Taylor Willis, co-founder of The Welman Project, couldn't help but express her dismay upon receiving the termination notice via a May 6 email. The funding is set to evaporate come May 31.
The Trump administration is calling the shots, initiating the cancellation of NEA grants, and focusing funding on pet projects that "elevate historically Black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions, celebrate American independence, foster AI competency, empower houses of worship, assist with disaster recovery, foster skilled trades, make Americans healthy, support the military and veterans, support tribal communities, make the District of Columbia safe, and support the economic development of Asian American communities," according to an email statement. Trump has even proposed the outrageous elimination of the entire agency from the 2026 federal budget.
Congressmen Marc Veasey and Craig Goldman, representing the districts where the former KKK hall and The Welman Project are located respectively, have yet to comment on the NEA's inconsiderate decision or their stance on the proposed elimination of funding.
Transmodify 1012 has been tirelessly working since 2019 to convert the infamous auditorium into the Fred Rouse Center for Arts and Community Healing, an ambitious project that upholds the memory of Fred Rouse, the sole known lynching victim in Tarrant County. The revamped center will encompass a performance space, meeting areas, an urban marketplace, a makerspace, historical exhibits, and services for underserved and LGBTQ youth.
Formerly a bastion of hatred, the now-embraced structure continues its journey towards redemption and inclusivity, with the help of generous private donors. "While we're disappointed at the development regarding the grant termination, our commitment to redevelop this important space remains unwavering," said Carlos Gonzalez-Jaime, Transmodify 1012's executive director, in a statement, encouraging individuals to donate and show their support for the cause.
In 2024, The Welman Project received funds through the NEA's ArtsHERE program, designed to expand arts participation across the nation. The grant would have been distributed until June 2026, but now, well, plans have a tendency to change when the funding the wheels are greased with disappears.
The NEA grant accounted for roughly 12% of The Welman Project's annual budget in 2021, bringing in revenue of $439,069, and bear the expenses of $510,584, according to the nonprofit's latest 990 tax filings. With the loss of this critical funding, the timeline for opening the community makerspace and tool library may have to be adjusted, as reported by Taylor Willis.
Despite this unsettling turn of events, art lovers should stand up for institutions they hold dear, generously contributing and showing their support. Other local art institutions have been recipients of NEA funding in recent years, including the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Amphibian Stage, Fort Worth Opera, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Kimbell Art Museum, Texas Ballet Theater, and the Cliburn.
The Cliburn, reputed for hosting the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, received over $90,000 in NEA grants between 2019 and 2023, even applying for funding this year, but came up empty-handed, necessitating increased fundraising efforts. Interestingly, funding from the NEA forms less than half a percentage of Cliburn's budget.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra received $65,000 in NEA funds between 2019 and 2023, looking forward to future funding aligning with their mission to provide exceptional musical experiences within the community.
Amphibian Stage, a cutting-edge performing arts theater, received $30,000 from the NEA between 2019 and 2023, and Jay Duffer, artistic director, expressed deep concern over the grant terminations, stating there seems to be no data to back the decisions, urging arts advocates to mobilize and contact their elected officials to safeguard the arts.
In the face of adversity, let's rally together to save our nation's cultural institutions and ensure the arts remain alive and relevant for generations to come. As our reporter David Moreno puts it, "For the NEA to become extinct now would be disastrous."
- The government's funding cuts have affected Transmodify 1012's project, Takeaway $35,000 from their budget meant for the building design of the Fred Rouse Center for Arts and Community Healing.
- The Welman Project, a community-focused educational resource, lost a grant of $74,900, intended for a community makerspace and tool library, within the Transmodify 1012 project.
- Artshere, the NEA's program for expanding arts participation, provided funds to The Welman Project in 2024, with plans to distribute them until June 2026 before the funding disappeared due to government decisions.
- Misrepresentation in the justification for funding cuts led to other local institutions like The Cliburn, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Amphibian Stage, and Amon Carter Museum of American Art being denied grants they had applied for.
- With the loss of critical government funding, these cultural institutions like The Welman Project and Transmodify 1012 now rely more heavily on private donations and increased fundraising efforts to continue their work, becoming vital for art lovers and supporters to contribute and show their support.
