FROM TYLER MCINTOSH, IATSE POLITICAL/LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR

Thanks to persistent advocacy in recent years from IATSE and our sibling arts and entertainment unions, we achieved record funding levels for the federal arts agencies. This increased funding cultivates more good-paying, family-supporting jobs across the country for IATSE members and those working to join the union.

Given the Trump Administration's recent attacks on the cultural agencies that we have decried, it is more important than ever that Congress conveys strong bipartisan support for NEA and NEH funding.

It's time to raise our voices once again, as Congress is already making decisions about next year’s funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

Currently, appropriations request letters are circulating in the House and Senate and we need members of Congress in both chambers to sign their names in support of funding the NEA and NEH at $209 million in FY26. The more members of Congress who sign these letters, the better our chances of increased funding to support jobs for union entertainment workers.

As in past years, we need your help amplifying IATSE’s joint letter writing campaign with the arts, entertainment, and media industry unions of the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO.

Contact your members of Congress today to ask that they join the arts appropriations request letters in support of funding the NEA and NEH at $209 million in FY26. 

Once you’ve written your letter using the above link, please contact your local membership and encourage them to do the same. We invite you to share this campaignwith your membership via email, social media, and other modes of local communication.

As we know, increased federal arts funding creates more work opportunities for IATSE members in the nonprofit arts. These funds go directly towards supporting working families, promoting our crafts, and ensuring all Americans have access to the arts and entertainment.

Taking action today helps get us closer to our ultimate goal of funding the NEA and NEH at $1 per capita.

Tell your members of Congress to support $209 million for the NEA and NEH!

In Solidarity,

Tyler