Crane River Theater depended on a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for nearly a decade to support its summer season – presenting shows in central Nebraska.
Last weekend, Steve Barth, the theater’s executive director, shared that the nonprofit no longer fell within the grant’s priorities for funding. He said it was disheartening at first to learn that the theater would have to operate without its expected $10,000 grant.
“I immediately started thinking, ‘How are we going to fill that financial gap?” he said. “I understand that there's funding for a number of different causes throughout the country, but when somebody tells you that you no longer fit into their required funding priorities, it's hard not to take it personally because you start to think, ‘Is what I'm offering not important?’”
Crane River Theater is one of many Nebraska arts and humanities programs that had funding partially or completely cut since April, according to Chris Sommerich, executive director at Humanities Nebraska.
“A lot of the organizations that work in both arts and humanities, like theater groups and other kinds of arts organizations, are really concerned and are trying to look at where they can make up any potential funding loss,” Sommerich said.
Humanities Nebraska’s operating budget was cut by 40% last month, and since then Sommerich said its leaders have been looking at ways to continue supporting arts and humanities programs across the state while staying operational.
“We're being as careful as we can, but still continuing our grant making right now, so organizations like Crane River theater, and others, we continue to to support as we can, as we calibrate what's going to happen, what cuts might need to be happening in the future, so that we can continue to exist and serve the state in whatever shape and form we can,” Sommerich said.
In Kearney, Crane River launched a GoFundMe with a goal of $40,000. Barth said the goal is to not only make up for the federal funding lost, but to help cover the costs of set design as well as travel and housing for performers who aren’t based in the area.
The campaign had already reached $11,000 in donations as of Friday, and Barth said there are community members continuing to show up to the theater in person with donations in hand.
“You hope that every day you're making an impact and reaching many people, but sometimes in a moment like this, you're reminded of what that impact is,” Barth said. “While that financial gap exists, we know that our community is going to help us out and get us through this hurdle.”
Sommerich said many organizations are seeing a rise in community financial support, but many humanities organizations can’t sustain on that support alone.
He said the support he’s seen from people across the state that leaves him hopeful.
“There just isn't enough private support to go around, especially in the smaller areas,” he said. “The community supports (Crane River) and there's versions of that all across the state, and I love being a part of it and just visiting these places and working with them. And I know there's a lot of good people all over Nebraska that are going to help figure out ways to make things happen. So, I remain optimistic overall.”