Tidewater Arts Outreach is not "Waste, Fraud, or Abuse".

The back story...

On May 2, 2025, the National Endowment for the Arts cancelled TAO's ArtsHERE grant - a project that was already 66% completed, had incurred over $50,000 in expenditures and countless hours of precious staff time (from a team of only 3). This project would have made TAO more resilient in its programming and fundraising and less reliant on grant funds in the future. It supported a program evaluation and strategic planning process (which we fortunately completed and already begun implementing) and was also to support a fundraising feasibility study. That study is now halted.

Over $52,000 of this grant will likely never reach TAO.

The National Endowment for the Arts itself is also on the chopping block entirely meaning the operating dollars TAO received in previous years are likely unattainable in future years (about 3% of TAO's operating budget annually).

Allowing older and isolated adults in our region to be harmed by loneliness (which can be fatal) is simply not an option.

We are moving forward whether or not the NEA survives. Here is how you can help:

GIVE TO TIDEWATER ARTS OUTREACH: Individuals have always made the most impact and that's truer now more than ever.
Phone or Write your legislators. Remind them that the National Endowment for the Arts is Congressionally directed under 20 U.S. Code 954 and that the dismantling of this agency harms the entire arts ecosystem of Hampton Roads, including artistic outreach to the most vulnerable and isolated. Also remind them that the government partners with hard-working organizations like TAO to achieve outcomes it could never achieve on its own. CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR REP.
Email us your story (tao@tidewaterartsoutreach.org). How does the arts, TAO programming, and the creative process enrich your life? We'll tell your story (anonymously) on social media during our #ThisIsArtAtWork campaign.

TAO is one of the hardest working organizations out there and we are determined to achieve our mission - with or without federal funding.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. #ThisIsArtAtWork

#ThisIsArtAtWork

TAO will continue the hard work - with or without federal funding