In the words of Mr. Feld, “what we’re asking for can be measured in inches.” (7/7)

The NEA is a vital source of funding for arts orgs across the US, including Ballet Tech. Mr. Feld’s “Submarine Speech” is a poignant reminder that even a small shift in the US government’s priorities has the power to make an incredible impact on the vitality and longevity of the arts sector. (6/7)

Applying the premise of Mr. Feld’s speech, this means that by reducing the length of each new Columbia-class submarine by only 12.6 inches (less than 0.2%), not only could support for dance remain at the same level, but also the entirety of the NEA’s annual budget could be funded. (5/7)

Each of the 12 new Columbia-class submarines will be 560 feet long and cost $9.15 billion to build, or $16.3 million a foot. The NEA is currently funded at $207 million. (4/7)

Now 44 years later, we once again face extreme cuts to the NEA, as well as the possibility of its elimination altogether. Coincidentally, a new fleet of submarines is currently in production, set to launch in 2028. (3/7)

Mr. Feld spoke of a fleet of 37 atomic submarines, each 300 feet long, that cost the US government $1 million a foot to build, and argued that by reducing the size of each submarine by only 1.5 inches, support for dance could remain at the same level. (2/7)