Rep. Lori Trahan Urges NEA to Restore Vital Arts Funding to Lowell Institutions
U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan is appealing to the National Endowment for the Arts to restore grants to the Lowell Festival Foundation and Merrimack Repertory Theatre. (Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald) - From Lowell Sun
In a passionate letter dated May 9, 2025, Congresswoman Lori Trahan called on the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to immediately reverse the cancellation of $20,000 in federal grant funding to two of Lowell’s cornerstone cultural institutions: the Lowell Festival Foundation and Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT).
Addressed to Mary Anne Carter, Senior Advisor at the NEA, Trahan’s letter stressed the urgency of reinstating funds that had already been allocated for Fiscal Year 2025. Both organizations depend on this support to continue offering impactful arts programming to the residents of Lowell and the broader Merrimack Valley.
“The funding must be reinstated to ensure that they can continue serving the residents of Lowell and the greater Merrimack Valley through high-quality arts education and performance,” Trahan wrote.
The Lowell Festival Foundation organizes the nationally acclaimed Lowell Folk Festival—the longest-running and second-largest free folk festival in the country. With roots dating back to 1988, the festival draws over 150,000 attendees each year, generating nearly $7 million in local economic activity. It features five performance stages, a folk craft area, cultural foodways, and artisan demonstrations, all highlighting the region’s rich immigrant heritage and industrial history.
However, the festival’s future is increasingly at risk. Recent cuts to Lowell National Historical Park, a key producing partner of the festival, have already resulted in the loss of three staff members, despite the park welcoming more than 250,000 annual visitors. The additional blow of rescinded NEA funding threatens the viability of this keystone cultural event.
Equally vital is the Merrimack Repertory Theatre, which has served more than two million people across the region over the past four decades. MRT is known for staging seven productions each season, many of them new works or world premieres, while also offering immersive theater education for thousands of young people.
“These institutions represent the heart of the arts in the Third District,” Trahan emphasized. “They showcase local musicians, actors, and artists while providing residents with meaningful opportunities to engage with culture and creativity. Their loss would be a profound setback for our community.”
She closed the letter with a direct appeal:
“I respectfully urge you to restore the $20,000 in grant funding to these institutions without delay. The return on this modest investment is immeasurable for our economy, our culture, and our community.”
With summer fast approaching, the fate of these beloved institutions—and the cultural identity they help sustain—now hinges on a swift response from federal leadership.
The Lowell Folk Festival wishes to thank Representative Trahan for being a staunch supporter of the Festival and arts in Lowell!
Read more at Lowell Sun
Read the letter here
Contact Representative Lori Trahan
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Thank you for standing with us. We look forward to welcoming you back to downtown Lowell this July to celebrate the resilience, creativity, and spirit of the communities we serve.
With Gratitude,
Arthur Sutcliffe
Board Chairman 
