NEA Cancels Decades-Long Creative Writing Fellowship Amid Trump Administration Cuts

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has canceled its Creative Writing Fellowship program, which has launched many prominent literary careers. The fellowship, which offered $50,000 grants to fiction and creative non-fiction writers, was canceled due to the NEA's focus on projects supporting HBCUs, Hispanic serving institutions, the 250th anniversary of America's independence, houses of worship, and AI competency, as stated in an email to applicants. The NEA's funding accounts for only 0.003% of the federal budget.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced the cancellation of its Creative Writing Fellowship program, a long-standing initiative that has significantly contributed to the development of prominent literary careers. The program, which offered grants of up to $50,000 to fiction and creative non-fiction writers, was abruptly terminated due to a shift in the NEA's funding priorities.

In a statement to applicants, the NEA cited its focus on projects supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic serving institutions, the 250th anniversary of America's independence, houses of worship, and AI competency as reasons for the cancellation. The agency stated that it is now prioritizing funding for projects that reflect the nation's rich artistic heritage and creativity, as per the administration's directives.

The cancellation of the Creative Writing Fellowship program is part of a broader trend of cuts to the NEA under the Trump administration. In May, $1.2 million in grants awarded to 51 independent publishers and literary organizations were canceled, also under the guise of new grant-making policies. The National Endowment for the Humanities similarly terminated 1,400 research grants to scholars and authors in April. Last month, the Authors Guild won its class action lawsuit against the NEH and DOGE, with a judge granting a stay on the cancellation of the grants.

The Authors Guild expressed disappointment with the cancellation, stating that the fellowship has nurtured countless literary voices who have gone on to shape American literature. They urged Congress to intervene and stop the Trump administration's overreach into vital areas of democracy and civic life.

The NEA's funding accounts for only 0.003% of the federal budget, highlighting the symbolic nature of the cuts. Despite the small percentage of the budget, the impact on the literary community is significant, as the fellowship has been a crucial source of support for emerging and established writers alike.

References:
[1] https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/98469-nea-s-creative-writing-fellowship-program-canceled.html