What You Have to Do to Get an NEA Grant Now

My friend Michael Phillips at the Chicago Tribune discusses the changes of “emphasis” at the National Endowment for the Arts here. I agree with the reactions of Chicago arts leaders. At the same time, this is why I have argued against seeking government funding in Building a Sustainable Theater. As we saw when Congress eliminated the Federal Theatre Project during the anti-communism scare in 1939, the political winds change and suddenly your business model is on shaky ground. Frankly, politicians are craven and often not very bright, and kowtowing to them undermines your creative independence. Alan Jacobs, writing in The Hedgehog Review on a different but related topic, provides enlightening insights about relying on others to support your interests in his essay “What To Do When Management Won’t Take Your Side—Or Even When It Does: Persuasion is the only option.” BTW, The Hedgehog Review is an excellent publication.