Montclair Art Lovers Should Worry About White House Budget, Museum Says

MONTCLAIR, NJ — If you’re a supporter of the arts in Montclair, you have a good reason to worry about President Trump’s proposed budget cuts, the Montclair Art Museum says.

On Thursday, the museum posted a social media plea to “stand up for museums” in the face of the White House’s proposed federal budget, which includes massive cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, the State Department and a wide swath of other departments and programs run by the executive branch.

The local Montclair museum stated that it is supported in part by funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, one of the federal agencies that may face severe cuts.

• See related article: 7 Things To Know About President Trump's Budget Proposal

“Federal funding for the arts enables us to serve our audiences in a variety of ways,” the museum stated.

Here are some of the local programs that the proposed federal budget could affect, according to the museum:

• Educational programming for students, seniors, veterans and special needs groups
• Exhibitions that “enhance visitors’ understanding of art, culture and history”
• Professional development courses for educators and professionals
• Free events that “bring the arts to life for everyone”

“Losing the National Endowment for the Arts would be a setback for us and for our community, as it would be for thousands of organizations and communities nationwide,” the Montclair Art Museum wrote. “If [the museum] is important to you and our work has touched your life, please know that this funding is vital to us.”

File Photo: Montclair Art Museum

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