Few people know that arts funding has been diverted from community-arts programs for over 30 years. The result is that low-income communities and people of color have few opportunities to experience and participate in art that reflects them, their lives, and their cultures.

Our executive director, Melissa Aase, explained how potential cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) could make this situation much worse for New York City communities and organizations like University Settlement during an interview on WABC 7 Eyewitness News. Watch one of our artists-in-residence, and the pre-K classes that helped create her dance, as you hear about the trickle-down effect of NEA cuts.

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — Eyewitness News talks to Melissa Aase, executive director of University Settlement about President Trump’s budget and the proposal to cut funding for the arts.