By Anne Levin

A few weeks ago, McCarter Theatre Center was awaiting delivery on the $35,000 it was to be awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in support of the play Legacy of Light. Nearby, Princeton University Concerts was looking forward to the $20,000 promised by the federal agency to support its Music & Healing series.

In Frenchtown, the Roxey Ballet was anticipating the $10,000 the NEA had allocated for its “Viva Cultura” Cinco de Mayo festival.

This past Friday, these organizations learned that the funding would not be forthcoming. They are among the numerous cultural groups across the nation promised support that has now been rescinded. As a result, a group of senior officials from the NEA announced Monday that they have resigned.

“The NEA is updating its grantmaking policy priorities to focus funding on projects that reflect the nation’s rich artistic heritage and creativity, as prioritized by the President,” reads the emailed form letter sent to the arts organizations. “Funding is being allocated in a new direction in furtherance of the Administration’s agenda. Your project, as noted below, unfortunately does not align with these priorities.”

The news was distressing to leaders of the cultural organizations, as much for the loss of financial support as for the message it sends.

“We are disheartened by this shift and fear for the many artists, organizations, and audiences across the country who depend heavily on federal support to keep their programs alive,” Princeton University Concerts Director Marna Seltzer said in an emailed statement. “We believe the arts are anything but ornamental; they are an essential part of a thriving, equitable, and beautiful society. They help us heal, connect, empathize, and imagine a more humane future.

As funds are cut and/or redirected to reflect political agendas, we risk silencing the voices, stories, and unique creative expressions that help us make sense of the world and one another.”

McCarter Theatre has been grappling with cuts in state as well as federal funding this year.

Executive Director Martin Miller said the combined loss, “kind of a one-two punch,” totals more than $200,000. The cuts “impact our dexterity and our ability to really take risks.”

“Sadly, McCarter is far from alone in feeling the pain of this loss — artistic institutions across our community and our country are learning of terminated grants to support programs that are underway,” he wrote in an email to subscribers and audience members.

Roxey Ballet Artistic Director Mark Roxey, in particular, was baffled by the decision, especially since the message from the NEA lists “projects that elevate the Nation’s HBCUs and Hispanic Serving Institutions” among its new priorities. Roxey is Puerto Rican.

“This festival we did is about Hispanic culture,” he said. “I brought in artists from the Bronx, from Mexico, an African drummer from New York — the whole thing was curated to celebrate Hispanic heritage and American culture. It’s just bizarre. There is no rationale or reasoning for why they would have denied us funding.”

Roxey learned of the rescinded funding on Friday evening; the planned festival, which charged no admission, took place the following day in New Hope, Pa., for an audience of nearly 300 people.

“I understand you want to make adjustments. But come on, you made a contract with us,” he said. “It’s an agreement, and it’s not fair to take it away after we’ve done everything. While $10,000 won’t bankrupt us, it will put us in the red instead of the black, because we run a tight ship.”

The email from the NEA advises arts organizations that they can appeal the decision to rescind funding within seven days “if you believe your project meets one of the agency’s new priorities.”

Miller said McCarter will give it a try.

“Given the amount of turnover in the NEA staff office, it’s difficult to even know where an appeal would land,” he said. “We will certainly do so, but none of us are very optimistic.”

More realistic, the arts groups believe, is the belief that local donors will step up.

“It’s been heartening to see the response,” Miller said. “While we’ve had a few messages that were negative, there have been so many who say they so value the work we do, and the mission-driven aspect of it, in terms of serving the community.”

Roxey would love to ask President Trump for his views of arts and culture. “Come on, the arts are great for the community, children, and the economy,” he said. “I’d love to hear your point of view, Mr. President.”