From New England to The Nation

Since January 20, we have been bombarded with an unprecedented number of alarming executive orders and federal actions. This flurry has brought with it confusion, fear, frustration and anger. It has left many scared for their safety, unsure of their next steps and how to be present with ourselves, our friends, our family and our neighbors who face the significant material impacts of these orders. These actions are succeeding in further fracturing our society. Our trust in institutions, in one another and in the future itself is eroding at an alarming rate. Yet, within this polarized landscape, I urge us all to lean on a powerful force for unity, healing and liberation at our fingertips: art.

I write to you not from the halls of Washington, but from the heart of New England—a region whose history is a testament to the enduring power of artistic innovation against social ills and toward greater social progress. This history is interwoven with and inseparable from the enduring legacies and active presence of the Abenaki, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Wampanoag, Narragansett, Nipmuc, Mohegan, Pequot, Schagticoke and countless other Native tribes, nations and confederacies whose cultural practices and land stewardship have shaped our shared past and continue to enrich our collective identity. 

Just as New England developed a trajectory for this nation, it nourished and set a precedent for our spirit of artistic progress and fortitude. Artists have shaped this region as much as they have been shaped by it—from Phillis Wheatley, the first Black woman to publish a book of poetry in the American colonies, to Jacob’s Pillow’s historic contributions to modern and contemporary dance, to the pioneering jazz program at UMASS Amherst that flourished in the 1970s. 

Significantly, the advocacy of Rhode Island Senator Claiborne Pell, who authored the National Endowment for the Arts Act, illustrates New England's influence in establishing federal support for the arts and culture. The living legacy of this commitment can be seen echoed in spaces like the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which bears the name of a son of this region and stands as an essential part of the nation's cultural landscape, reflecting the importance of the arts in society.

James Baldwin, Mary Oliver and countless writers have tucked themselves into its landscape to find solace and inspiration. New England’s artistic heritage is as vast and diverse as the land we live on. The bold artistic expressions flourishing today in communities like Providence, Pittsfield, Portsmouth, Pittsford, Plainville and Portland, New England’s story is one of resilience and creativity. This region’s rich and often contradictory legacy has consistently shaped our national identity, forging a unique blend of individual expression and a powerful sense of shared community. 

Founded in 1976 amidst economic uncertainty and political turmoil, the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) emerged from a deep commitment to uplift artists and communities at a time when the arts were often marginalized. In a world confronting social and political challenges, we set out to strengthen the cultural landscape across New England and throughout the nation, ensuring that diverse voices and artistic expressions could resonate loudly and clearly amid the chaos. NEFA's founding was a direct response to the need for an arts service organization dedicated to leveraging the transformative power of art to address societal challenges.  Our multifaceted approach – acting as a regional arts organization, intermediary, arts and cultural service provider– has allowed us to build bridges between artists, funders, and communities, fostering regional, national, and international art development while promoting equity and accessibility for all.

We stand now at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. The current political landscape is compounded by years of misinformation and profound societal divisions, all of which threaten to undermine the very foundations of our democracy. Amidst this uncertainty and division, I offer these affirmations and a call to action: we must recognize and invest in the transformative power of art.

Art is not a mere luxury; it is a fundamental necessity for a thriving society. It is the language of the human heart, a means of processing complex emotions, forging connections across divides and inspiring meaningful dialogue. ​​Lorraine Hansberry, groundbreaking writer of A Raisin in the Sun, who found a queer haven and artistic retreat in Provincetown, MA, understood the power inherent in artmaking: “…All art is ultimately social…The question is not whether one will make a social statement in one’s work—but only what the statement will say, for if it says anything at all, it will be social.”

This is as true today as it was in Hansberry’s time, and this social and political capacity innately within art makes its safekeeping so crucial. Thankfully, this capacity to safekeep art and artists lives inside every one of us, and if we nurture its growth we can begin to see its full potential.

The first audible reaction of a child entering this world is something that most likely resembles a protest song or a war cry, therefore, somewhere along this child’s birth journey, it has known joy, because it is chasing breaths, to feel it again.

Yes, the primal instinct of art and justice can be traced back to the very first sounds we make as we enter this world. That initial audible symbolizes a powerful yearning for life and expression. This primal cry is not merely a reaction to the external world; it embodies the intrinsic human desire to connect, to be heard, and to assert one's existence.

In this moment, the child captures the essence of human experience: the interplay between joy and struggle, the fight for survival, and the quest for understanding. The cry is a declaration of identity and an assertion of presence, a poignant reminder that we come into this world not just to inhabit it, but to engage with it deeply and unapologetically.

This instinctual expression echoes the fundamental nature of art. Like that first cry, art arises from our deepest emotions and impulses, reflecting our joys, sorrows and aspirations. It serves as a medium through which we process, question and challenge the world around us. Just as the child’s instinctive sounds convey a need for connection and acknowledgment, art carries this same essence, inviting dialogue and fostering empathy among individuals and communities.

Equally, the elements of justice are intertwined with this primal instinct. The war cry, for example, signifies a challenge to oppression and an unwavering call for dignity and rights. It is a reflection of our innate understanding of fairness and our desire for a world where every voice is valued. This primal need for justice propels us to stand against injustices, to advocate for those who are silenced, and to create spaces where every individual can express their truth.

Ultimately, both art and justice emerge from our shared human experience. They are rooted in our most basic instincts—the drive to be seen, to be understood, and to forge connections with one another. As we navigate the complexities of life, it is this primal instinct that reminds us of our collective humanity, urging us to express ourselves, to seek justice, and to embrace the transformative power of creativity in our quest for a more equitable society.

As such, we must embrace art as an applied social science concerning ourselves with the welfare of others and our society— a practice that fosters joy and connection as much as it is also used as a powerful political tool. Art’s generative capacity gives us permission to imagine a truly just future and rally around it. In its various mediums, art has always been an indispensable tool in justice movements—from the self determination of The Black Arts Movement to the artist-driven visual interventions employed by ACT UP during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, art can disrupt, give us hope and change hearts and minds. As authoritarianism and xenophobia upticks across the world, art can be salve to find commonality across differences and borders and beyond the bounds of the United States. We must galvanize around our collective humanity and demand a national commitment to art. It may require a fundamental shift in how we value and integrate art into the fabric of our society.  

At NEFA, we are committed to supporting artists at all levels—personally, financially, politically, and artistically.  We stand in service to artists and creative communities, fostering regional power, national influence, and international connections in line with our aspiration.  Our various programs work to promote access to the arts, strengthen the arts ecosystem, and support artists in their development. We are dedicated to ensuring equity and accessibility, supporting underserved populations, and actively engaging with communities. NEFA will continue to act in service of  artists, arts practitioners and community members who share our values and are dedicated to enriching the arts and culture landscape.

On an individual level, I encourage you to stay connected—whether with NEFA, your local art and performance venues or neighborhood creatives and guest artists. Continue to create and engage with art in whatever forms resonate most deeply with you. These seemingly small acts of creation and connection will nurture our spirits and strengthen our resolve for years to come.

Every polarized nation needs menders, and menders need tools. And it is in culture that we, the menders, trust for this task. From creatives to funders to producers, business owners, policymakers, community builders, media personnel, educators, organizers, strategists and spectators, this is our assignment: to leverage the transformative power of art to heal a fractured nation. 

Let us support artists and arts organizations alike, engage actively with artistic and cultural communities and advocate tirelessly for policies that protect and promote artistic creation, cultural expression and equitable access.  Only through a renewed commitment and endowment to the arts can we foster a future where empathy, understanding and a shared sense of purpose guide us towards a more unified and just society.