SebArts chafes at new rules for federal arts funding

Loyalty oaths, anti-DEI and gender initiatives? Sebastopol Center for the Arts' board of directors says “No thanks”

In defiance of the Trump administration’s efforts to rid the federal bureaucracy of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the board of directors of Sebastopol Center for the Arts released a statement on Thursday, Feb. 13, reaffirming their commitment to those very principles.

In a public letter to SebArts supporters, the board wrote, “Especially in challenging times, we remain dedicated to fostering a space where artists and audiences from all backgrounds can come together, participate in meaningful dialogue, and see themselves reflected in a dynamic creative community. We are committed to uplifting marginalized voices, encouraging creative risk-taking, and ensuring that our programs and exhibitions reach as many people as possible.”

Almost all of SebArts’ funding comes from local sources, but the organization recently won a $30,000 Opportunity Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Thanks to the chaos in Washington, that grant is now in limbo.

“We’re waiting for the funding to arrive, and there has been some kind of delay,” said SebArt Director Serafina Palandech. “We’re not sure about the funding cycle. The grants for the National Endowment for the Arts for the second half of this year have been put on indefinite pause.”

“In addition, the grant application for 2026 has been delayed,” Palandech said, “and they rewrote the guidelines so they got rid of the Opportunity Grants. Opportunity Grants were for small arts organizations that focused on diverse communities. So those are gone.”

There has also been a change of theme preference.

“The Grants for Arts program now, their preference is that it focus on patriotism—the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is what they prefer,” Palandech said.

And now, according to Palandech, all federal arts grants come with a loyalty oath.

“If you do receive grant funding in 2026, you have to sign a loyalty oath that includes pledging that your organization does not have any DEI initiatives or language or programming and that you abide by the executive order around no DEI and that you abide by the executive order for gender ideology. You’re not allowed to talk about trans people as an organization,” Palandech said. “So we as an organization are not going to be applying for the 2026 National Endowment for the Arts grant cycle.”

Here is the message from SebArt’s board of directors in full:

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dear Friends and Supporters of the Sebastopol Center for the Arts,

We, the Board of Directors, write to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the core values of diversity, inclusivity, and pluralism at the heart of our organization. Recent changes at the National Endowment for the Arts, including the discontinuation of the Challenge America grant program and a nationalistic focus on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, highlight shifts in the broader arts funding landscape. In light of these developments, we want to make one thing absolutely clear: the arts must remain accessible to, and reflective of, all communities.

Pluralism is more than a principle—it is the very foundation of the United States. Our national motto, E Pluribus Unum(“out of many, one”), reminds us of our collective belief that we are enriched, strengthened, and made more vibrant by the multitude of voices and perspectives that form our nation. This ethos resonates powerfully in the work we do here at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts.

Especially in challenging times, we remain dedicated to fostering a space where artists and audiences from all backgrounds can come together, participate in meaningful dialogue, and see themselves reflected in a dynamic creative community. We are committed to uplifting marginalized voices, encouraging creative risk-taking, and ensuring that our programs and exhibitions reach as many people as possible.

As we navigate changes in funding and the national conversation, we ask for your continued partnership. Please join us in supporting diverse programming, collaborating across communities, and championing the ideals that enrich our democracy and uphold the spirit of E Pluribus Unum.

Thank you for your steadfast support and commitment. Together, we can preserve and celebrate the power of artistic expression for everyone.

With gratitude and solidarity,
The Board of Directors
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
www.sebarts.org

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