South Coast Repertory Loses $20,000 NEA Grant

The money was earmarked for the theater’s current production of “The Staircase.”

Wil Kahele in South Coast Repertory's production of "The Staircase." Photo courtesy of SCR/Robert Huskey

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South Coast Repertory is a victim of the latest cuts in arts funding by the Trump administration.

On May 2, the theater received word that a $20,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant awarded to its production of “The Staircase” was being withdrawn. The play about Hawaiian myths and stories opened that night on SCR’s Julianne Argyros Stage. It was commissioned, developed and produced by the Costa Mesa theater company in a process that spanned several years.

SCR had been notified of the award on Nov. 7, 2024. The NEA sent out a press release confirming the award in January.

While the production won’t be affected by the decision, SCR must find a way to replace the NEA money, according to Suzanne Appel, the theater company’s managing director. “The way all government grants work is that when the government awards the grant, the grantee spends the money and then you make the request (for the grant) after you’ve already spent it. The grant period began in January, so we would have made other plans around the production if we knew we weren’t going to receive this funding.”

The NEA’s withdrawal decision was unprecedented in her two-decade experience as an arts administrator, Appel said. “This is a first. It has never happened at any theater I’ve worked with.”

While the money represents a tiny fraction of SCR’s annual expenses, it will be challenging to find replacement funds in a budget that is tightly controlled and planned many months in advance, Appel said. The decision also has a negative symbolic effect as well, she added.

“The amount of money we received from the NEA in most years has ranged from $20,000 to $50,000. It wasn’t (awarded) every year but it was pretty consistent and very much a reflection of support coming from our federal government in the belief that every American deserves access to great arts.” 

Also on May 2, President Trump proposed eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities in the budget he released. Along with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the NEA and the NEH were among the entities listed in a section titled “small agency eliminations” in Trump’s budget blueprint for the next fiscal year.

David Ivers, SCR’s artistic director, encouraged theater lovers to contact their elected representatives to voice their concern about the future of federal support for the arts.

“There are multiple ways in which you can reach out on a federal level to support the arts. Getting in touch with your local Congress person – whatever you think might be impactful.”

Ivers pointed out that beyond its value as an arts institution, SCR is a major job source for skilled talent. “It’s important to remember that we’re an employer. We’re no different than a grocery store or a factory. We have people who rely on our daily product that we craft and sell for their livelihoods.”

The NEA and other federal granting bodies that help the arts are crucial to every community in America, Appel said.

“That is part of what our country has (identified) as a deeply held belief. The NEA was broadly supported by both parties. It also creates a lot of jobs and has a real, meaningful impact on people across the country.”

The withdrawal of NEA money and the possible elimination of the agency by the Trump administration throws up another set of unexpected changes at a time when theater and other art forms have been challenged continually for several seasons, Appel said. 

“I’m hopeful that we can replace that money, but in a post-COVID environment this is not an easy time to be running an arts organization.”