Testimony of Gabrielle H. Lyon, PhD, Before the Illinois House Committee

Testimony provided by Gabrielle H. Lyon, PhD, Executive Director, Illinois Humanities,

Before the Illinois House Museum, Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Committee on May 15, 2025 in Springfield, Illinois.

Chairperson DuBuclet, Vice-Chair Hernandez, Spokesperson Jacobs, and members of the Committee:

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.

My name is Gabrielle Lyon. I am Executive Director of Illinois Humanities—an organization committed to strengthening our democracy by fostering thoughtful dialogue, critical inquiry, and civic engagement

For 50 years, we’ve worked to make sure history, heritage, culture, and the arts are available in every corner of Illinois.

Today, I want to talk about the very real consequences of federal funding cuts—and what they mean for everyday Illinoisans.

Challenges created by Executive Orders to how we do our work are growing every day. At the same time, the federal agencies that support our sector - Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) - are being dismantled person by person, grant by grant. 

I am here today to share the impact federal funding cuts from one agency in particular - the National Endowment for the Humanities - are having on our organization's ability to deliver essential programming to communities across Illinois.

Since April, over $14 million in humanities funding has been cut in Illinois. Illinois Humanities alone lost $2 million—about a third of our budget. 

Our funding is an annual appropriation - not a grant. Illinois Humanities was set up to be the state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Our job is to make sure federal dollars come back to Illinois and serve our people in their communities. 

We do this by:

• Giving grants to small museums, libraries, history and heritage sites—many in rural or underserved communities—where we are often the largest or even only funder.

• Creating free public programs and travelling exhibits to bring people together to learn, and connect, particularly for small towns and rural communities and communities impacted by mass incarceration.

• Providing education for adults and students

These funds allow us to extend opportunities to tens of thousands of Illinoisans—especially in communities that are underserved, underrepresented, and too often overlooked.

One of the most powerful examples is the Odyssey Project/Proyecto Odisea—a free, college program for adults living on low incomes. In partnership with leading educational institutions, students study literature, philosophy, history, and art history—not as a luxury, but as a lifeline. 100% of Odyssey students are living at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. Over 70% are women who are the heads of their households. Over 90% are students of color. Odyssey participants receive support to participate. We provide books, transportation, childcare, even laptops. 

Graduates tell us the experience is a pivotal moment in reclaiming their agency, confidence, and ability to participate fully in society. As one alum, Dorian Nash, told us:

“Odyssey saw me. It changed that little girl who felt unseen into someone comfortable walking in the sun and letting her voice be heard.”

But now, because of these cuts, this life-changing program is at risk. We may have to slash enrollment, reduce support services, and eliminate alumni offerings like college-readiness support. And the barriers these students have already worked so hard to overcome will grow taller once again.

Every year our Road Scholars program sends performers and historians around the state to share hundreds of presentations about everything from the reintroduction of Native Americans to Illinois, to Winning State Fair Recipes, to the Music of Forgottonia. The demand for these programs is extraordinary - but the impact is transformational. After a program at the Reddick Public library, one person told us, “I took many things from this program but above all the most apparent and important is that one's history is all our history.” 

What's happening with the federal dollars that were supposed to come to Illinois? Well, NEH funding has been repurposed to create a statue garden that will be built in South Dakota to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Meanwhile, here at home, Illinois Humanities is unable to support local communities who are poised to commemorate this anniversary by engaging youth, uplifting stories and bringing attention to the ways in which Illinoisians have shaped our nation and illuminated the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.

Federal funds are our roots - they pay for our ability to do the work. We raise $2 for every $1 dollar we get from the NEH. When the roots die, the leaves wither.

But for Illinois this isn’t just about our bottom line. The dismantling of IMLS, NEA and NEH is fraying the civic fabric of our state—our libraries, museums, and classrooms. 

We all remember what it was like during COVID - when we couldn't gather: we couldn't go to the library, or a musical performance; we weren't able to be in face-to-face conversation. The public sphere was "disappeared" almost overnight. These federal cuts are, in essence, "disappearing" our public square one flagstone at a time. 

We need more public spaces and ways to come together, not less.  Public trust, civic participation, and shared understanding are under extreme pressure. The best way to bolster these things is by doubling down to provide places and spaces designed expressly for these purpses.

Illinois Humanities programs like Odyssey, Envisioning Justice, our Museum on Main Street exhibitions, and statewide grantmaking depend on steady federal support to serve Illinoisans—whether they live in rural towns, small communities, or big cities. 

In 1965, Congress founded the National Endowment for the Humanities and declared the humanities belong to all of us. I still believe that. Illinois Humanities believes it. There are thousands of Illinoisans right now anxiously waiting to hear that this government believes it, too, and that their favorite library program, or after school program, or local jobs, aren’t going anywhere.

Illinois Humanities stands by the belief that history, heritage, arts and culture belong to everyone, no matter their income, background, or zip code. These programs don’t just enrich lives—they connect people, strengthen communities, and preserve our shared culture and history so that we can forge a better future.

Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your commitment to our great state. I welcome your questions.

- Gabrielle H. Lyon