A persuasive advocate should be up to date on the key issues affecting the opera sector.

Read the latest news on advocacy efforts prepared by OPERA America's Director of Government Affairs — and check back for regular updates.

Review the key issues affecting opera and the arts with downloadable briefs prepared by the Cultural Action Group.

Advocacy Update

Issued May 1, 2025

An Update on NEH Funding Priorities

On April 23, the National Endowment of Humanities released a press release speaking to the changes in funding priorities and answers to relevant questions. The release notes that “moving forward, NEH is especially interested in projects on the nation’s semiquincentennial and U.S. history more generally. In addition, the agency will be more finely attuned to its statutory responsibility that “funding should contribute to public support and confidence in the use of taxpayer funds.” In response to the new priorities, the NEH also announced a new  National Garden of American Heroes: Statues grant program responding to the January 29, 2025 Presidential Executive Order 13978, “Celebrating America’s Birthday,” which names the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, as key partners in the implementation of the National Garden.” The announcement goes on to say that the NEH and NEA “have jointly committed a total of $34 million to the creation of the National Garden of American Heroes. Of this $34 million, the two cultural agencies will devote $30 million in FY 2025 to enable the creation of statues in marble, granite, bronze, copper, or brass depicting historical figures tied to the accomplishments of the United States.”

REMINDER: FTC Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees goes into effect May 12, 2025

The FTC released a FAQ on the rule from last December which will require sellers to clearly communicate the total price of items for sale where prices are displayed and advertised, to accurately represent the nature, purpose, and amount of fees that are charged, and to clearly disclose the final amount of payment for the transaction. (Government charges, shipping charges, and optional fees or charges may be excluded from the total price.) The League of American Orchestras also has a ticketing policies resource page with a further overview.

Issued April 17, 2025

Action Needed: Sign-On Letter to Support Arts in Education Grants

The Title IV-A Coalition is gathering national, state, and local organizational support for a letter to Congress urging $1.6 billion in FY 2026 funding for the Title IV-A grant program. This flexible block grant supports safe and healthy schools, technology use, and well-rounded education—including dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. Sign on by April 25 using this form.

Arts Education for All Act Introduced

The Arts Education for All Act (H.R. 2485) was introduced in the House of Representatives on March 31, 2025, with the stated purpose of expanding arts education. The bill, introduced by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), aims to improve access to arts education for early learners, K-12 students, and individuals involved in the justice system.  Since introduction, the bill has gained 8 Democratic Co-Sponsors and 2 Republican Co-Sponsors.  Read the text of the bill here.  See the list of early co-sponsors here.

Proposed Consulate Closures

The State Department is expected to propose an overhaul of the U.S. government’s diplomatic footprint overseas, including the elimination of entire embassies and consulates, according to a document that is part of a broader FY 2026 budget proposal. Ten embassies and 17 consulates would be shuttered under the Administration’s plan, including Eritrea, Luxembourg, South Sudan and Malta. All would be folded into embassies in nearby countries. Five of the proposed consulate closures are in France: Lyon, Rennes, Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Marseille. Two are in Germany: Düsseldorf and Leipzig. The list also includes Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, as well as Florence, Italy. Ultimately, the decision to reduce the State Department's budget rests with Congress. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available. As a reminder, we encourage you to review the Artists from Abroad page for the latest in international cultural engagement.

A Second IMLS Lawsuit Filed

April 8, the American Library Association (ALA), the largest library association in the world, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest union representing museum and library workers filed a lawsuit asking the court to block the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services(IMLS.) More can be found at AFSCME’s press release here. This is in addition to lawsuit filed by 21 state attorney generals filed April 4th. Our coalition partners, the American Alliance of Museums, are posting updates and resources on their website here and are encouraging continued action.  

Key Advocacy Issues

Prepare to take action by reviewing the key issues with downloadable briefs prepared by the Cultural Action Group.