Good news regarding federal funding for the arts.  Earlier today, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies considered legislation that sets funding levels for both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).  The bill that was reported out of this Subcommittee today contains significant increases for both of these agencies, with each slated to receive $170 million for Fiscal Year 2010.

This $170 million allocation is $15 million more than the NEA and NEH received for Fiscal Year 2009 and $9 million more than President Obama’s request for next fiscal year.  While these levels are below what we have requested, we are grateful to the Subcommittee’s Chairman, Representative Norm Dicks (D-WA), and to all members of the Subcommittee for their efforts to ensure that America continues to provide much-needed support for non-profit arts projects across the country.