The Alaska Humanities Forum federal grant cut has forced the organization to scale back deeply rooted community programs across the state. On April 2, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) sent a letter abruptly terminating federal grants without following the usual notification process.
The NEH justified the immediate cut due to urgent fiscal priorities, calling the move necessary to protect federal interests. This action eliminated funding for the Forum and other cultural entities like the Museum of the Aleutians.
Kameron Perez-Verdia, the Forum’s president, said the decision would hurt rural Alaskan communities relying on cross-cultural support. For decades, the Forum funded language preservation, storytelling initiatives, and historical projects to empower Alaska’s remote populations.
The organization was legally required to match its federal funds with local donations, a process it had previously managed well. Perez-Verdia explained that the NEH’s appropriation helped cover basic operations and fueled further grants and fundraising efforts within Alaska.
Programs like Leadership Anchorage, now in its 29th year, are at risk. This initiative has trained over 450 alumni through mentorships and hands-on community projects designed to build local leadership. Another program, Story Works, focuses on youth mental health and suicide prevention by encouraging students to develop personal narratives through guided coaching.
Additionally, the Forum supported local filmmakers, giving Alaskans a platform to tell culturally rich and deeply personal stories. Now, those creative voices face silence. Perez-Verdia warned that these cuts will impact education, mental health support, and teacher retention efforts in communities like Bristol Bay and the Northwest Arctic.
Despite the setback, the Forum plans to adapt by downsizing and rallying community support. Perez-Verdia urged Alaskans to donate, saying survival now depends on collective effort. Without renewed funding or donations, the federal grant cut could end decades of grassroots storytelling and cultural preservation across the state.
This news article was originally published by Alaska’s News Source.
