New Collection of Resources for Navigating the Changing Landscape

March 3, 2025

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

We are living through a complicated moment in American history, which every nonprofit organization is working to understand and respond to. At the League, we are sustained by the knowledge that the arts are strongly embraced across the political spectrum as essential and deeply meaningful to American life and society. We continue to be guided by the commitments outlined in our Strategic Framework, which define our work supporting the orchestra field. And we will continue to advocate tirelessly for freedom of artistic expression, and for the broadest participation in our art form across gender, race, and social background.

Today, we are introducing a new collection of resources that we hope will help orchestras navigate such an uncertain national environment. The materials include overviews of executive orders, legal analysis, messaging guides, and tools created and already in use by the wider arts and nonprofit sectors for protecting creative expression. Our pledge is to keep up a regular flow of information, guidance, and support in the coming weeks and months.

As we all look for direction in a time that does not lend itself to clear answers, the League will continue to provide resources that aid in strategizing and decision-making, and of course to provide the forum for discussion that we know the field relies on.

Meanwhile, we suggest four interconnected areas for orchestras to consider.

The legal situation continues to be complex, although, for the time being, the framework around equity, diversity, and inclusion from the end of last year still broadly applies. The League cannot provide legal advice, and we strongly recommend orchestras seek guidance from local legal counsel—in particular to understand the implications of the June 2023 Supreme Court ruling and the September 2024 Fearless Fund settlement, and to help evaluate risk. 

The second area is compliance. It’s important to state that the recent executive orders have implications for many federal agencies and are currently being extensively challenged in the courts. Until we see conclusive court rulings, they will remain subject to interpretation. The National Endowment for the Arts has issued new guidelines requiring compliance with relevant executive orders for organizations receiving grant funding, but many details are not yet fully understood, especially following the latest court action. We will continue to update our NEA grant process resource page as we learn more. In due course, orchestras will need to assess how the compliance requirements will affect plans to apply for future federal support.

Third, orchestras should consider their communications around the work they are committed to, and how they articulate their values. Several messaging guides (linked on the new resource page) have recently been released that offer thoughtful insight on how to reach across the ideological spectrum. We can be encouraged by the knowledge that the vast majority of people in this country support the right of each individual to thrive, advance in their careers, and be happy and fulfilled in their lives. Coalescing around these ideals is within our reach, and we should continue to have deep faith in the power of the arts to bring us together.

Lastly, this is a moment where care takes on new importance. Many in our communities are experiencing fear and anxiety about the future—fear of discrimination, fear of global political unrest, fear for the future of the planet, and, in some cases, fear for their own safety. Kindness, patience, and understanding are the most meaningful investments we make in those around us in times of change and uncertainty like this. As a field, we are fortunate to be able to draw on the fellowship and mutual support of the orchestra community, as well as to be grounded by the inspiration and nourishment of great music.

We want to know how these developments affect your work, how you are responding as an organization, and what else we can do to support you. We encourage you to reach out to the League team at any time.

We appreciate everything you are doing in your orchestra and community, and we are here to support you, as always. 

With best wishes,

Simon Woods
President and CEO
League of American Orchestras