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Register by October 17 to Secure Your Spot!
| Registration Type | Member Price |
|---|---|
| Early Bird Registration (Sept. 11-Oct.3) | $750 |
| General Registration (Oct. 4-Oct.17) | $850 |
The political landscape in Washington, DC continues to evolve daily. Chorus America needs to hear from you: How are the federal government’s actions affecting your work? All stories of specific impact are welcome. Please share your experience here. Thank you to those members who have already shared their stories with us.
Visit our Government Affairs Resource Page for more tools.
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These government affairs updates are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended as legal advice. Nonprofit arts organizations should consult with legal counsel for guidance specific to their circumstances.
On December 11, the NEA released its FY27 Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) Guidelines. For projects beginning in January 2027, the Part 1 application deadline is February 12, 2026. The guidelines strongly encourage applications that focus on the Administration’s priorities, now including the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The new guidelines also merge various disciplines to streamline internal agency processes. Choruses are still eligible to apply under the “music” discipline.
👉 Read the Guidelines and Deadlines, here.
👉 Read the NEA’s full list of priorities, here.
👉 Read the revised application FAQs, including “What’s new,” here.
Finally, as of December 2, the NEA has updated a separate FAQ page related to the Certification of Compliance.
“There are two provisions you will have to certify to in the course of applying for, and receiving, a federal award. The first requires you to certify that your organization's compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws is material to our decision to issue any payment. The second requires you to certify that you do not operate any DEI programs that violate federal anti-discrimination laws.”
👉 Read the revised FAQ page related to the Certification of Compliance, here.
Deadline Extended: Share How Your Schools Funded Arts Education in 2024–2025!
The Arts Education Alliance and NAMM’s SupportMusic Coalition have extended the deadline for the 2024–25 Federal Funds Survey to January 16. K–12 arts educators and leaders: we want to hear how your school or district used federal funds (Titles I, II, IV-A) to support music, dance, theatre, media arts, and visual arts last year—or how your program was funded if you received little or no federal support. Regardless, your input helps us track impact, identify needs, and strengthen advocacy for arts education nationwide. The survey takes about 20 minutes; for some questions, you’ll need to consult with district staff familiar with federal funding data to ensure accuracy. Take the survey today!
White House Publishes New Executive Order on AI
As the policy scramble continues in the wild world of AI, the White House has released another, and widely anticipated, Executive Order. Released on December 11, the White House published, “Ensuring a National Policy framework for Artificial Intelligence.” The EO promotes a federal approach to AI regulation (that avoids “cumbersome regulation”) and empowers the Justice Department to create an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge states that have AI regulations inconsistent with the latest EO.
“To win, United States AI companies must be free to innovate without cumbersome regulation. But excessive State regulation thwarts this imperative… My Administration must act with the Congress to ensure that there is a minimally burdensome national standard — not 50 discordant State ones. The resulting framework must forbid State laws that conflict with the policy set forth in this order.”
Arts and Culture groups share numerous concerns around AI including loss of rights and protection for artists and their creations. Simultaneously, artists are experimenting with AI in their art making and business tasks.
Tell Us Your Thoughts on AI & the Arts
As the AI landscape continues to evolve, we would love to hear from you! What are your experiences with using AI in your music and organization? What are your concerns? What are your hopes?
👉 Drop us a note with your thoughts at [email protected]
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Amy Fitterer is a dynamic leader in association management, government affairs, and the performing arts. She has consulted for OPERA America and Partners in Performance, supporting advocacy and strategic planning efforts. As Executive Director of Dance/USA (2011–2020), she led its transformation into a more equitable and financially strong organization, launching initiatives like Dance/USA Fellowships to Artists. Previously, she directed government affairs for OPERA America and Dance/USA, successfully advocating for arts funding and policy improvements. A former ballet dancer and pianist, Amy holds degrees from Indiana University and Columbia University. She lives in northern Virginia with her family and enjoys dance, music, and fitness.
