MICHELE BAER

Engaged in federal advocacy to support sustained and robust funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) as part of the annual appropriations process, including outreach to executive branch officials and congressional offices to reinforce the agencys role in supporting the national arts infrastructure and creative workforce. Conducted ongoing advocacy related to artist visa and immigration policy, with a focus on persistent processing delays affecting O and P visa categories. Participated in coordinated field-wide efforts to elevate stakeholder concerns, promote greater transparency and predictability in adjudication timelines, and reinforce the need for stable planning assumptions for performing arts organizations. Advanced policy positions supporting charitable giving incentives relevant to nonprofit arts organizations, including engagement around federal tax policy proposals that affect individual and corporate charitable contributions. Emphasized the importance of maintaining broad-based incentives that sustain nonprofit arts organizations and cultural workers. Advocated for the recognition and inclusion of cultural and performing arts organizations within federal emergency preparedness, resilience, and recovery frameworks. Engagement included monitoring and responding to federal agency actions and proposed rules related to disaster assistance, community resilience, and continuity of operations. Maintained nonpartisan civic engagement advocacy consistent with federal guidelines, including promotion of voter participation tools and technical assistance to arts organizations on compliance, messaging boundaries, and best practices for public engagement during federal election cycles. Covered Government Officials Contacted Outreach during the reporting period included meetings and communications with officials from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA); congressional staff affiliated with Republican Senate leadership; and staff from the bipartisan Congressional Arts and Culture Caucus. Additional engagement included staff from relevant House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over appropriations, tax policy, immigration, education, and cultural affairs.