Learn more about the decision-making bodies, agencies implementing funding and policy, and ways to take action at the local, state, and federal level.
National and state arts budgets are regularly debated issues. Government grants comprise a small but significant portion of arts nonprofit funding, as they have been shown to attract investment from other private and public funders. Annual funding appropriations are determined by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees overseeing the U.S. Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.
Local Level: City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
Decision-Making Bodies
City of Pittsburgh
- Pittsburgh City Council
- Passes the city budget and legislation affecting arts funding, development, and public policy.
- Council meeting schedule: https://pittsburgh.legistar.com
- City of Pittsburgh Public Art & Civic Design Commission
- Reviews and advises on public art and civic design projects.
Allegheny County
- Allegheny County Council
- Approves the county budget and legislation that impacts regional funding priorities.
- Council meeting schedule: https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Government/Row-Offices/County-Council/Council-Meetings
- Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD) Board of Directors
- Leads the annual hearing process and approves grant funding from regional tax revenue.
- Board meeting schedule: https://www.radworkshere.org/pages/board-meetings
Agency Implementing Funding
- Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD)
- Distributes dedicated regional tax revenue to support arts, culture, libraries, parks, and sports facilities.
Take action:
- Attend council, commission, and board meetings
- Track legislation and budgets
- Participate in public comment
- Engage with during and outside of budget and funding cycles
State Level - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Decision-Making Bodies
- Pennsylvania General Assembly
- Passes the state budget and legislation impacting arts and culture.
- Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee
- Reviews and amends the state budget, including appropriations affecting the cultural sector.
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee
- Oversees Senate review of state spending and revenue proposals.
- Pennsylvania Arts & Culture Caucus
- Bipartisan group of legislators advancing policies and dialogue around arts and culture.
- Pennsylvania Creative Industries (formerly Pennsylvania Council on the Arts) Council
- Governing council that sets policy and approves grant funding for Pennsylvania’s state arts agency.
Agencies Implementing Funding
- Pennsylvania Creative Industries (formerly Pennsylvania Council on the Arts)
- Administers state arts funding programs and partnerships.
- Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC)
- Oversees state historic sites, archives, museums, and grant programs for preservation and cultural heritage.
- Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)
- Administers tax credit and incentive programs that benefit arts organizations and creative industries, including the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC), and film, video game, and live event production tax credits
Advocacy at the State Level
- Creative Pennsylvania (formerly Citizens for the Arts in PA)
- Statewide advocacy organization
Take Action
- Contact your state representative or senator
- Monitor state budget hearings
- Engage with PCI council meetings
- Participate in statewide advocacy days
Federal Level - United States
Decision-Making Bodies
- United States Congress
- Sets federal appropriations and passes legislation impacting the cultural sector.
- United States House Committee on Appropriations
- Drafts federal spending bills, including funding levels for cultural agencies.
- United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
- Oversees Senate development of federal spending legislation.
Agencies Implementing Funding and Policy
- National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
- Distributes federal arts funding nationwide.
- National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
- Funds humanities research, preservation, and public programs.
- Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
- Supports museums, libraries, and cultural heritage institutions through federal funding and programs.
Advocacy at the Federal Level
- Americans for the Arts
- National nonprofit advancing arts and culture policy, research, and advocacy.
- Arts Action Fund
- Americans for the Arts’ affiliated 501(c)(4) organization focused specifically on lobbying and direct federal advocacy.
Take Action
- Find and contact your members of Congress
- Sign up for federal advocacy alerts
- Participate in national arts advocacy days
- Monitor NEA and NEH funding opportunities