WHEELING — The West Virginia Humanities Council has announced it is “pausing” the distribution of its grants across the state after the National Endowment for the Humanities was forced to cancel its funding by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Directors of local programs indicated there were no grants expected here at this time, but the move nevertheless has them concerned for the future of funding for arts and culture programs.

The council stated in a release that it and “every other state humanities council” had received a Notice of Grant Termination from the NEH effective immediately. The notice came under the direction of DOGE.

“With no further federal funds expected, and no indication whether any federal support for our work will be restored in the future, we must pause our grants program indefinitely until Congressionally appropriated funding is again made available to us,” the West Virginia Humanities Council stated.

The organization added it is “deeply aware of the immediate negative impact this will have on West Virginia’s cultural life and economy.”

It has been the NEH’s official state affiliate since 1974. Each year the Humanities Council provides more than $1 million to the statewide network of cultural organizations, local historical societies, schools, museums, libraries, community centers, and individuals “who work to preserve, document, and celebrate the Mountain State’s rich history and cultural heritage,” according to the council.

Danielle McCracken, executive director of Oglebay Institute, explained that while OI has no grants from the council presently under consideration, the organization has provided money to support OI exhibitions and lectures locally.

“It’s very concerning,” she said. “Any cuts to the arts to the humanities, arts and culture are concerning. These dollars are critical to telling the story of our history and our future.

“They are critical to arts organizations, schools, and the programs we deliver to educate the public and enrich the cultural fabric of our communities. This makes the area an attractive place to live, visit and do business.”

Arts and culture are vital to tourism in an area, McCracken said. They attract people to stay longer and spend more money in a community.

“I hope there are no further cuts,” she said. “The NEH is critical to organizations like Oglebay Institute and the Wheeling Symphony. When there are cuts to the NEH, it obviously makes us concerned about other funding services.”

Sonja Thoms, executive director of the Wheeling Symphony, reports her organization also does not have any grant requests before the West Virginia Humanities Council.

“We have received grants from them in the past, and were considering asking for funding in the future,” she said. “These grants are essential to a community’s thriving. There are so many expressions of arts and humanities in communities.

“We rely on many types of funding, but funding from the government is essential. If any would be threatened, it would be devastating to us.”

Amy Kastigar, executive director of the Wheeling-Ohio County Library, noted the library receives grants occasionally from the council. This money helps them with obtaining programming for its “Lunch With Books” series.

“It will affect us in a small way,” she said. “The money allows us to schedule more presenters. We have a certain budget, but it is a weekly program, and the grants provide the money for someone to come in and speak to patrons.”

The council offers a popular program called “History Alive” in which it sends historical re-enactors to do lectures.

“About once a year we do that. We definitely pull from that,” Kastigar said. “We’re definitely going to have to tighten our belt, just like every library.”