Nebraska Cultural Endowment

05/28/2026

It’s Lincoln’s One Big Day of Giving!

NCE supports arts and humanities programs all across the state of Nebraska, including Lincoln. Make a lasting impact with your gift today!

https://givetolincoln.com/nonprofits/nebraska-cultural-endowment

05/20/2026

NCE went to Civic Nebraska’s State of Civic Life Conference yesterday. Lance with Nebraskans For The Arts gave a great presentation about advocacy!

Thank you, Civic Nebraska !

04/27/2026

Despite the $5 million loss from the Cultural Preservation Endowment Fund (CPEF), we are all the more resilient thanks to our growing advocacy network. Thank you to the hundreds of Nebraskans who contacted representatives, submitted comments, shared posts and spoke up. ❤️

We are especially grateful to Nebraskans For The Arts an advocacy organization completely dedicated to advancing the arts as essential to life and learning for all Nebraskans. We could not have protected the remainder of the CPEF without their organizing and advocacy support.

Funded in part by the Nebraska Cultural Endowment through the Nebraska Arts Council, Nebraskans for the Arts is a powerful resource to stay connected to statewide cultural advocacy. Anyone can become a member at NebraskansForTheArts.org.

04/24/2026

The State of Nebraska has permanently removed $5 million from the $15 million Cultural Preservation Endowment Fund (CPEF). The CPEF is the State-managed public fund that matches up to $1 million in private donations to the Nebraska Cultural Endowment (NCE) each year.

The impact: Fewer dollars in the CPEF means reduced earnings to draw down for our grantmaking partners at the Nebraska Arts Council and Humanities Nebraska. If you have donated to NCE, your gift is protected in our private fund — the State cannot take it away, and it is still growing earnings to fund Nebraska’s arts and humanities.

This is a significant loss, but thanks to our steadfast and new advocates, we protected the remaining $10 million in the CPEF. This was originally proposed as a full sweep of the fund. Additionally, while the State had paused its annual match the past two years, it is approved to reactivate at the end of 2027 and is intended to be extended to 2032.

We will keep you closely updated with further details. Here’s what you can do now right now:
📧 Sign up for our e-newsletter at NebraskaCulture.org
✅ Follow Nebraskans For The Arts + become a Nebraskans For The Arts member to stay connected to and promote statewide advocacy efforts

03/27/2026

Celebrate World Theatre Day today!

NCE is a proud support for Nebraska's Performing Arts.

Uni Place Creative District BLUEBARN Theatre SNAP! Productions Omaha

03/11/2026

⚠️ LB 1072 has hit the legislative floor for debate.
The Appropriations Committee heard your voice, but cutting $5 million of the $15 million CPEF fund remained in their recommendation. We OPPOSE this one time sweep of $5 million.

However, resuming the $1 million dollar additions from 2027-2032 IS in the bill. Future funding remains uncertain year to year, but we SUPPORT this inclusion language.

‼️WE STILL NEED YOU! Here’s how your can take action:

✅EMAIL or CALL your State Senator
✅EMAIL Legislative Staffers of each Senator
✅Schedule an in-person meeting with your Senator or Staffer if you are in or visiting Lincoln
✅Join Nebraskans For The Arts’s Advocacy Network, and/or become a member!
✅Tune into the live stream of the legislative debates
✅It’s an election year - VOTE!

Act now by clicking this link, which has contact information, helpful resources, and more: https://nebraskansforthearts.quorum.us/campaign/157078/

02/20/2026

Check out these unique exhibits & exhibitions available now in NE! For further information or to sign up for our weekly newsletter, visit https://humanitiesnebr.wpengine.com/about-us/contact-us/.

02/20/2026

Many thanks to historian Bill Hayes for traveling to Red Cloud to give his talk, "Fight Against Slavery on the Great Plains: Nebraska's Underground Railroad," to a very full gallery crowd of students and history buffs! We are so grateful to Humanities Nebraska, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and a generous donor for their support of the HN Speakers Bureau program.

Couldn't make the talk? There's still time to visit the Red Cloud Opera House Art Gallery to experience "Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad." This traveling exhibit of photographs by Jeanine Michna-Bales is on display through March 15th: https://www.willacather.org/events/through-darkness-light

02/20/2026

⚠️Make your voice heard!

Help save the Cultural Preservation Endowment Fund by contacting members of the Appropriations Committee as well as your district senators.

Last year, CPEF played a part in helping Humanities Nebraska continue its work at full capacity for communities statewide, even with the total loss in federal funding. This fund ensures a bright future for Nebraska’s Arts and Humanities!

Click this link for more information and a guide for contacting your district senator.
https://nebraskansforthearts.quorum.us/campaign/153859/

02/19/2026