Culture Keeper Mutual Aid Network
The cultural sector is a cornerstone of any nation’s identity and greatness. Yet, cultural industries and the professionals who sustain them are often deprioritized when it comes to government funding. As of May 2025, the U.S. federal government—via the Department of Government Efficiency—has moved to significantly cut funding and staffing for the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts. These cuts not only threaten the arts and humanities programs that enrich communities nationwide, but they also jeopardize the ability of countless cultural workers to provide for themselves and their families. In response, Higher Ground Society is launching the Culture Keeper Mutual Aid Network—a bold effort to unite and support the cultural community through collective action and mutual aid.
Mission: To support the livelihood of arts and humanities administrators and cultural workers in times of uncertainty.
Method:
Career Support
Culture Keeper Register - The Register will be a public roster of cultural workers who wish to self-identify their expertise and qualifications to find independent consulting or contract working opportunities.
Career Workshops - Higher Ground Society will occasionally facilitate gatherings for cultural workers to exchange expertise and information that might benefit the collective in its career journey.
Mutual Aid
Fund - The Mutual Aid Fund will be established to provide financial relief to cultural workers—arts and humanities administrators, scholars, artists, museum professionals, etc.—experiencing hardship in a time of uncertainty.
Acts of Service (tentative) - Higher Ground Society will provide a platform for Keepers and Friends to exchange goods and services amongst each other, meeting each other’s needs when and where we can.
For questions, reach out to us through our Contact form.
Engage
Upcoming Opportunities:
Even though most people will have more than one job, we are somehow sold the dream of a linear career progression--finish school, get a job and then retire. Though this has not been the case for many over the last three generations, it is still the picture we have in our minds. Further, events beyond our control might necessitate changing course and pivoting into another career path. It can be done, though! This session will cover often overlooked valuable resources that can be used for job transition and improving your current professional status. Regardless of your current career status, or your level of educational achievement, there's bound to be some bit of information shared that will you help you navigate the professional world. So join us! Let’s rewrite the rules of career success—together.