146: How is the Government Threatening Activist Artists and Arts Organization?

What Threats are There to Activist Artists and Cultural Organizers & What Can You Do About Them? Today on our weather report, we're wading into stormy waters, namely threats to activist artists and arts organizations coming not from creeps and trolls on the Internet, but from our own government.So this week we're focusing on what's happening to creative change agents out there and on what might be coming.Yep, we're talking about funding being yanked, but also loyalty style clauses slipped into grants and organizations being told to sit down and shut up or else. Over the next 20 minutes or so, we'll take a quick walk throughWhat's already taking place,What might be comingAnd what we can do about it.We'll also share how some organizations and programs are stepping up to defend the field.ART IS CHANGE – Notable MentionsPeopleDonald Trump — Referenced in connection with executive actions affecting nonprofits and federal cultural agencies.Stephen Miller — Quoted regarding the administration's framing of political conflict and nonprofit organizations.George Soros — Philanthropist referenced in discussions of nonprofit funding.Reid Hoffman — Philanthropist referenced in discussions of nonprofit funding.Judy Munson — Composer and sound designer for ART IS CHANGE.Organizations & InitiativesCenter for the Study of Art & Community — Producer of ART IS CHANGE.National Endowment for the Arts — Federal agency supporting the arts.National Endowment for the Humanities — Federal humanities agency.Rhode Island Latino Arts — Arts organization challenging NEA grant restrictions.National Queer Theater — Plaintiff in litigation challenging NEA grant restrictions.New Mexico Arts — State arts agency.Ford Foundation — Independent philanthropic foundation.Open Society Foundations — Global philanthropy supporting democracy and justice.MacArthur Foundation — Philanthropic foundation supporting creative people and institutions.Schmidt Family Foundation — Foundation supporting environmental resilience and communities.Institute of Museum and Library Services — Federal agency supporting museums and libraries.Smithsonian Institution — National museum and research institution.Government Programs & LawsJohnson Amendment — IRS rule prohibiting 501(c)(3)s from partisan campaign intervention.Challenge America — Former NEA grant program serving underserved communities.America250 — National commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.501(c)(3) — Federal tax classification for charitable nonprofits.Internal Revenue Service — Federal tax agency.U.S. Department of Justice — Federal law enforcement agency.Legal & Strategic Resources for NonprofitsThe organizations below provide some of the country’s most reliable guidance for nonprofits facing political pressure, government investigations, funding restrictions, IRS scrutiny, or challenges to their advocacy rights. Their websites include legal analyses, practical toolkits, policy updates, governance guidance, webinars, and action alerts designed to help organizations prepare, respond effectively, and continue their work within the law.International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL)⁠ICNL has become one of the country’s leading observers of the legal environment facing civil society.Resources for U.S. Nonprofits10 Major Legal Threats to U.S. Civil SocietyUnited States Resource CollectionCouncil on FoundationsPolicy and legal resources for philanthropy.Policy & AdvocacyHomeNational Council of NonprofitsPractical compliance and advocacy guidance.Take Action CenterPublic PolicyTools & ResourcesGoodwin LawLegal insights for exempt organizations.Nonprofit Organizations PracticeHomeAlliance for Justice / Bolder AdvocacyAuthoritative guidance on nonprofit advocacy.Bolder AdvocacyResource LibraryTenenbaum Law GroupIRS compliance and nonprofit governance.HomeCharity Lawyer BlogStrategies for Defending NonprofitsAcknowledgementsFrom FreeSound.orgWINDDsgn_Hurricane wind in the forest area.Designed_EM.mp3 by newlocknew -- https://freesound.org/s/680138/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Thunder Claps, Single Clap 01 by PNMCarrieRailfan -- https://freesound.org/s/682351/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Darkest Thursday – A Haunting Electronic Masterpiece by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/558271/ -- License: Attribution 4.078 PULSE: A Dark and Ominous Soundscape for Mysteries and Suspense by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/541944/ -- License: Attribution 4.0improvised non-chill 2 by waveplaySFX -- https://freesound.org/s/238525/ -- License: Attribution 4.0improvised non-chill 2 by waveplaySFX -- https://freesound.org/s/238525/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Loud knock on door.WAV by simonk24 -- https://freesound.org/s/666218/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Fog Horn.wav by CGEffex -- https://freesound.org/s/94678/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Bosch’s Garden – Mythical Game Music for Fantasy and AI Projects by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/647212/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Gonna be gone by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/640853/ -- License: Attribution*****Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community...