John Michael Kohler Arts Center scramble after NEA grant rescinded
According to the most recent financial report, JMKAC reported having $53.5 million in total assets and raising $11.4 million in 2023
SHEBOYGAN — The Downtown Sheboygan art museum, with a satellite museum on the city’s west side, has been affected by efforts to decrease the size of the federal government and reduce waste.
Earlier this year, funding that had been pledged by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to host acclaimed artist and musician Lonnie Holley for a residency at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center has been withdrawn. “We were informed that due to a shift in agency priorities set by the current administration, our work is no longer considered a match for the NEA, despite years of continuous support,” said Amy Horst, Executive Director of JMKAC.
The National Endowment for the Arts is a federal agency that provides tens of millions of taxpayer dollars in grants each year to arts organizations and projects. According to Horst, the agency has provided JMKAC over $1 million in funding over the last 20 years. Despite the grant being rescinded, JMKAC will still host Holley. “We will continue to honor our commitment to the artist affected by the grant withdrawal this year,” said Horst. Meanwhile, an appeal to NEA has been submitted in hopes of still receiving the grant.
The non-profit organization is not financially strapped or struggling to operate. In 2023, the non-profit organization reported $11.4 million in revenue and having $53.5 million in total assets. In that fiscal year, the museum reported receiving nearly $8.2 million in donations, $1.2 million in investment income and $60,172 in property rental income. The financial report for the 2024 fiscal year is not yet available.
NEA is among a group of "small agency eliminations" proposed by the White House. "The Budget includes the elimination of, or the elimination of Federal funding for, the following small agencies — consistent with the President's efforts to decrease the size of the Federal Government to enhance accountability, reduce waste, and reduce unnecessary governmental entities," the budget request states. Since its founding by Congress in 1965, the endowment has awarded $5.5 billion in grants.
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