The future of agencies reliant on funding from Utah Humanities is now in jeopardy after a significant loss of nearly $1 million in federal funding that had previously been approved by Congress.
This funding cut has deep ramifications, especially for organizations like Torrey House Press, recognized as the sole full-service nonprofit literary book publisher in the Intermountain West.
Kirsten Allen, co-executive director of Torrey House Press, emphasized the intrinsic value of storytelling, stating, “Humans have been telling stories around the campfire since we first learned how to light a match.”
She highlighted that organizations focused on arts and culture play a vital role in fostering community relationships and nurturing connections among individuals.
In response to the funding crisis resulting from the Department of the Interior’s grant cuts, Jodi Graham, the executive director of Utah Humanities, indicated that they’ve had to put a pause on program grants and limit their remaining initiatives to minimal budgets.
Although Graham anticipated potential funding losses from the National Endowment for the Humanities following the reelection of President Donald Trump, the abruptness of the cut took her and other state councils by surprise.
“In sort of a terrible, overnight, unexpected way, all 56 state councils received notification that our funding was just killed, and with no real reason,” she remarked.
Despite having operated with rigorous reporting and auditing processes, Utah Humanities found itself in a precarious position, unable to accept new grant applications or distribute funds without federal support.
Graham noted that Utah has a strong historical commitment to supporting arts and culture, stating, “It’s one of the things that makes Utah a great place to live and work and play.”
When Utah Humanities was established in 1975, its primary role was to allocate funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities into community grants.
Graham reiterated the critical nature of the federal funding, affirming, “We absolutely cannot award program grants without that federal funding. That is key.”
The ramifications of the funding cuts are profound and far-reaching; those grants significantly contributed to initiatives across the state, including underserved areas such as Blanding, Bluff, Moab, and Tooele.
Torrey House Press relied heavily on these grants, which accounted for around 18% of its foundation funding.
With the loss of this funding, Allen expressed concern over the gap it created, explaining, “We operate without an endowment. We operate without a significant reserve.”
In the already challenging funding landscape, Allen articulated the urgency to bridge the gap to maintain operational viability.
The resources provided by these grants enabled Torrey House Press to organize events in rural regions like Bluff, Torrey, and Springdale, promoting connections between authors and the community.
Notably, their mission emphasized publishing works at the intersection of the literary arts and environmental advocacy, underscoring a commitment to the land.
Additionally, funding was crucial for sending Native American authors to events, a process made significantly more challenging by the unexpected loss of support.
“It’s particularly distressing that we are short of funding to be able to really pull that off,” Allen remarked.
The grant funding also facilitated Torrey House Press’s contributions to Utah Humanities’ annual book festival, which is still scheduled for this year but will be executed at a scaled-down level.
If future funds are not restored, Allen warned, the programming may face drastic reductions, potentially leading to fewer events, a decrease in book publications, and even staff cuts.
“We’re already pretty small, with just four full-time people,” she noted, indicating that the ramifications could create a destructively wide ripple effect.
As the situation continues to unfold, organizations like Torrey House Press are left to navigate these turbulent waters, hoping for a resolution that will enable them to continue their essential work in the community.
image source from：kuer
