The responsibility for supporting Missouri cultural institutions rests with MO legislators with this devastating loss of funding.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jefferson City, MO, April 7, 2025 —Today, Missouri Citizens for the Arts (MCA) calls on the Missouri Legislature to save Missouri cultural institutions with a budgetary increase of $1.9 million for the Missouri Arts Council after the dissolution of the National Endowment for the Humanities (which granted institutions in Missouri $13,613,502 between 2019 and 2033) and $3,338,467.00 granted in 2025 alone by the Institute of Museum and Library Servies (IMLS). This gutting of federal funds lethally threatens the survival of Missouri jobs and communities, not to mention collective heritage, knowledge, and culture.
To save jobs, businesses, and Missouri identity, MCA asks the state legislature to honor the “Non-Reisdent Athletes and Entertainers Tax” (A&E Tax) established in 1994, and increase the A&E tax contribution to the Missouri Arts Council this fiscal year by $1.9 million. This modest increase from the A&E Tax falls still falls short of the originally-prescribed 60% allocation mandated by the law, but MCA believes it will help fund Missouri creativity and culture during this time of unprecedented government cuts.
“Cuts to American cultural institutions at the federal level means that Missouri is on its own to preserve its heritage, knowledge, businesses, and jobs,” said MCA Government Affairs Consultant Kyna Iman. “The Missouri creative economy contributes $1.7 billion to the state. This represents more than 3.3% of the GDP and supports more than 94,000 jobs. MCA’s requested increase of $1.9 million will help curb the dismantling of critical funding from the IMLS and NEH. Missouri elected officials know this funding makes sense to help communities thrive and Missouri voters’ lives meaningful.”