Embedded Files
In the Spring of 2003,
In the Spring of 2003,
A young man from Newark, New Jersey found himself marching in the streets, not for applause, not for tickets sold, not for opening night, but for something far more vital: the survival of the arts. It was the New Jersey March for Arts Funding, and for the first time, Herb Williams, now Executive Artistic Director of Edutainment Productions Inc., saw just how fragile the artistic lifeline truly was.
“I had grown up believing the arts would always be there. That they were permanent, like school bells or church choirs. But that day, walking alongside dancers, musicians, poets, and students, we were all shouting for our very right to exist.”
Herb was working for the City of Newark at the time. He saw, firsthand, how cuts to arts funding weren’t just lines on a budget, they were the death knells for dreams. Community theatre spaces went dark. Summer arts camps closed their doors. He remembers a friend Janine, who ran a small Afro-Caribbean dance studio in East Orange, calling him in tears.
“She said, ‘I just told 32 girls that we don’t have the money to reopen this summer. Some of them don’t have anywhere else to go.’”
She never reopened.
For every massive arts institution that survives on legacy and endowments, there are hundreds of local organizations that scrape by each year with hope and hustle. Edutainment Productions knows this intimately because we are one of them.
Over the years, Herb has watched brilliant Black-owned theatres, community dance troupes, immigrant art collectives, and youth music programs fall not from lack of talent, but from lack of funding.
One company lost their space because the landlord refused to wait on a grant that was delayed.
Another couldn’t afford to renew their insurance, one accident, and they were done.
A longtime friend in D.C. closed their youth spoken word center after 18 years. No fanfare. Just gone.
“People don’t realize that the arts don’t just die. They are buried slowly. One denied grant, one canceled partnership, one broken promise at a time.” Say’s Donnell Taylor, Executive Director of Edutainment Productions Inc.
This is Why We Wear the Bands.
This is Why We Wear the Bands.
We didn't launch "Culture Can't Be Cut" simply as a fashion statement. These aren't just wristbands. They're receipts of resistance.
The first band (Culture Can't Be Cut) pre-launched this summer, bold and clear. Two more are coming, each one designed to carry the full weight of this movement.
When worn together, they form a visible, wearable statement of advocacy. Every dollar raised supports underserved creatives, small orgs, and artistic access for youth and communities.
After all, we didn’t create Edutainment just to produce shows. We built it to create a stage where no one gets left behind.
This Is Bigger Than Us
This Is Bigger Than Us
We are now in 2025. The National Endowment for the Arts is being defunded.
That’s not a headline. It’s a wound.
And small orgs like ours are being asked to do more with less, again.
But this time, we are not marching alone.
We are Inviting the Nation to Wear the Movement.
To tag it, post it, fund it, and talk about it.
To remind every neighbor, policymaker, donor, and teacher:
“Culture is not optional. It’s essential. And it belongs to everyone.
Culture Can't Be Cut. The Arts Must be Protected.
Culture Can't Be Cut. The Arts Must be Protected.
Edutainment Productions Inc. stands on the front lines of creativity, access, and advocacy. As threats to arts funding grow, especially with the defunding of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), we respond not with fear, but with powerful clarity:
Culture isn't a luxury. It's a lifeline.
From academic gains to mental wellness, from job creation to community resilience, the arts shape lives, build futures, and spark healing.
Key Findings: How the Arts Transform Lives
Research consistently shows the arts improve:
Education
Students involved in the arts are 4× more likely to be recognized for academic achievement.
Americans for the Arts
Mental Health
Participation in arts programs reduces depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms, particularly among youth.
Multiple studies on arts and mental health
Economic Growth
Arts and culture contributed $1.02 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2021.
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
Civic Engagement
People engaged in the arts are more likely to vote, volunteer, and participate in community life.
Americans for the Arts
Youth Development
Arts provide a safe, expressive outlet and help build soft skills essential for future workforce success.
Research in creative youth development
The Crisis:
The Crisis:
Defunding the NEA is just the beginning.
Defunding the NEA is just the beginning.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVMvrA6ATBM
Source: https://www.mpnews.com.au/2025/05/27/big-sing-protest-celebrates-the-power-of-arts/
In 2025, Budget Proposals Eliminating all NEA Funding Sent Shockwaves Through the Arts Ecosystem. Here's the Reality:
In 2025, Budget Proposals Eliminating all NEA Funding Sent Shockwaves Through the Arts Ecosystem. Here's the Reality:
Small & local orgs like Edutainment are hit hardest, losing grants that fund programs, performances, and essential community access.
Youth-focused arts programming is endangered, reducing creative outlets in underserved neighborhoods.
Mid-sized orgs are squeezed, with less re-granting capacity and no buffer for production loss.
Major institutions struggle to maintain outreach, disproportionately affecting rural, BIPOC, and low-income communities.
This Isn't Just About The Arts,
This Isn't Just About The Arts,
It's About Opportunity, Equity, & Belonging.
It's About Opportunity, Equity, & Belonging.
Trusted Resources & Further Reading
Trusted Resources & Further Reading
Americans for the Arts : Find factsheets, impact data, and advocacy tools
Createquity: In-depth think pieces on cultural equity & sustainability
NEA Economic Reports: Detailed analysis on economic impact of the arts
Arts Education Partnership: Research on arts in schools and education impact
ArtPlace America Archive: Creative placemaking & arts in community development
How to Take Action:
How to Take Action:
Support the Culture Can't Be Cut Campaign
Support the Culture Can't Be Cut Campaign
Grab your limited-edition wristband or the full 3-band set, and wear your support. Every purchase funds youth arts access, performance space, and creative mentorship.
Join our Mailing List
Join our Mailing List
Get updates, action alerts, and invitations to local events, panels, and performance showcases.
Tag the Movement
Tag the Movement
Show your support on social media with the hashtags:
#CultureCantBeCut
#EdutainMe
#WearTheMovement
Amplify the PSA
Amplify the PSA
We’re seeking media outlets, influencers, and nonprofit partners to help us spread the word.
Contact us to get involved at ie.luckey@openspaceartspwc.com.
To Every Artist, Parent, Supporter, Educator, & Community Member: You are the reason this movement is possible. Together, we’re building a legacy that cannot be silenced.
To Every Artist, Parent, Supporter, Educator, & Community Member: You are the reason this movement is possible. Together, we’re building a legacy that cannot be silenced.
Culture Can’t Be Cut. Not on our watch.
Culture Can’t Be Cut. Not on our watch.
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