Our NEA grant was terminated, but we're not giving up
At the beginning of this month, Feminist Press was notified that our federal grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts has been terminated. According to the letter we received, Feminist Press’s project “to support the publication and promotion of books of fiction and nonfiction, including work in translation” no longer falls under the NEA’s new funding focus “as prioritized by the President.”
In a moment when the federal government is attacking immigrants’ rights, threatening the safety of queer and trans people, and slashing critical social services, terminating funding for literary organizations is not just shortsighted—it is a direct attack on the artists and writers whose creative work has always been a source of resistance, solidarity, and strength.
The NEA has long been a critical source of funding for our small independent literary organization. Our terminated funding was intended to support the publication of six books this year, including covering printing costs, payments to authors, and book events. Now, we’re facing difficult choices about what we’re able to do.
As we face this political moment, it is important to us to share how we are practicing our values as a feminist publisher. Since 1970, Feminist Press’s mission has always been to publish insurgent and marginalized voices. Regardless of who is in political power, we will continue doing this crucial work: publishing books that fuel social movements, investing in the literary careers of writers from the margins, and building a more just publishing industry.
Along with our commitment to furthering the work we have been doing for five decades and counting, we recognize that this is a moment that requires new commitments. At a moment when trans people’s right to exist is being threatened under the guise of “gender ideology,” we commit to publishing books and authors who write from a feminism that treats trans inclusion as a defining point of feminism’s current wave. At a moment when the histories of people of color are being erased from official sites under the guise of “DEI,” we commit to publishing the rich and varied work of writers of color whose voices are essential to our literary culture.
We know that this is a moment when many of us are angry and grieving. We fear for our safety, for the safety of our loved ones and those around us. We also acknowledge that our current political moment has not emerged from a vacuum: Feminist Press’s fifty-five years of existence is testament that this fight has always been ongoing, and we are dedicated to continuing it. We have seen firsthand the power that art has to inspire hope, build community, and effect change.We are so grateful for your support—whether you’re buying Feminist Press books, borrowing them from your local library, or sharing recommendations with a friend. And if you’re able, every dollar you can contribute counts.