The Impact of Funding Cuts on DC Theaters

Although we struggle like other cities, we are unique. Given that DC is not a state, government funding is a little different. We don’t have a state arts agency, and some funding comes directly from Congress. In the District, there are two major sources of government support—the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program. In recent years, the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities was cut by 70% going from $13 million to $3.9 million and the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program was cut by 74% going from $9.5 million to $2 million. In comparison to our peers nationally which on average faced cuts of 6-10% range, cuts in the 70%+ range seem crippling and disproportionate.

In comparison to another great theater city up north, DC receives 54% less in federal funding from the NEA, and a whopping 83% less in state and local funding per capita.

At some DC theaters, government support levels in the current fiscal year are lower than where they were in the 1970s, with the biggest hits to funding occurring unexpectedly and quickly. In the case of Arena Stage, seemingly overnight roughly $1 million in contributed revenue from the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program spread across two fiscal years disappeared.

Let’s not beat around the bush. By nature, theater people are resourceful, as from day one we are born into an under resourced world. But we are not miracle workers. A combined annual loss of $16.6 million in government funding in the current fiscal year if not reversed will have a significant ongoing impact in our community.