NEA Cuts Threaten Our Tour — Help Keep the Big Top Alive

We want to share an important update with you and ask for your support.

Midnight Circus in the Parks has received consistent funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) since 2014. This year, the NEA announced major cuts to their grant programs, and we, along with many other arts organizations are likely to lose critical funding.

This news comes at a difficult time. In 2023, we lost our city funding from Chicago and had to find new ways to support our tour. Now, with our full Big Top Tour returning for the first time since 2020, these cuts threaten our ability to deliver the full experience to communities across Chicago.

We’re working hard to keep our performances accessible, affordable, and equitable — but we need your help to close this funding gap.

Here’s What’s at Stake:

• $20,000 is the amount we stand to lose from NEA funding

• This funding directly supports our tour logistics, artist pay, and affordable ticket pricing

If you’ve attended a show, laughed with your family under the tent, or seen the impact in your neighborhood— now is when your help matters most

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us raise $20,000 and bring the Big Top back to Chicago parks this summer.