Local community arts organization Studio Two Three has had a previously approved federal grant rescinded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), according to an email received this week. The grant, totaling $30,000, had been awarded for programming planned for the 2025 calendar year.
In the email addressed to Kate Elizabeth Fowler, the NEA stated that the “tentative funding recommendation for the following application is Withdrawn by the Agency,” confirming that Studio Two Three will no longer receive the anticipated funding.
The grant was tied to a project with a proposed period of performance from January 1 to December 31, 2025. Studio Two Three had already received a formal offer letter confirming the award prior to the withdrawal.
In a public statement, Studio Two Three expressed disappointment at the decision:
“Absolutely fuming furious. A grant we spent hours (days?) writing, submitted on time, were selected and approved for by a group of our national peers and received our acceptance letter for was randomly revoked today. It is WILD that this administration is retroactively pulling funding.
The long-arm strategy to federally divest from community organizations is not incidental. These are the places where communities gather, dream and scheme. This is where we build, envision and create community-level change. Onward and upward.”
The revocation comes amid broader changes in federal funding priorities under the Trump administration, which has previously proposed eliminating the NEA altogether. While Congress preserved the agency’s budget during Trump’s first term, shifting policy focus and internal agency changes have affected how grants are reviewed and awarded.
Studio Two Three, based in Richmond, supports artists through studio access, workshops, residencies, and community partnerships. The organization has collaborated with groups such as the Afrikana Film Festival and Performing Statistics, and regularly offers public-facing programming aimed at broadening access to the arts.
When asked for further comment, a representative from Studio Two Three shared the following statement: “This most recent cut means that since Trump first took office, our organization has lost $230,000 in federal funding. With an annual operating budget of approximately $650,000, that loss is significant — it directly impacts our ability to serve artists and our community.”
It is currently unclear whether Studio Two Three will appeal the decision or if alternative funding will be sought to support the planned 2025 programming.
If you would like to make a donation to Studio Two Three, you can do that HERE.
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