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On April 3, Atlanta’s Out of Hand Theater announced the immediate suspension of its innovative Equitable Vaccines program following a decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to rescind previously allocated public health funding.
The sudden funding cut is a major blow to the theater company, which says the grant was essential to its partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health and crucial to its overall operations for the 2025 fiscal year.
“This was a massive, multiyear program that we started developing in 2020 and have been doing ever since,” said Out of Hand Artistic Director Ariel Fristoe. “In 2025, this was a million-dollar program, and we’re a $2 million-dollar organization. That is half our budget, so we had to lay off five out of our 15 employees.”
Launched to combat vaccine misinformation, EqVax used a unique blend of theater, art, storytelling, and community dialogue to build trust in vaccines among underserved communities. The program primarily served rural Black and Hispanic Georgians — groups that have faced historic barriers to health care and often lack access to accurate health information.
Over the years, Out of Hand has produced a range of creative outreach projects through the program, including a play about a Black family reconnecting after lockdown, an animated educational film, and a Spanish-language comic book designed for distribution at health fairs to children and families across the state.
The cuts come as part of broader shifts under the Trump administration, which has signaled major rollbacks in arts and public health funding. In response, a coalition of 23 states — including Colorado, California, and New York — filed a federal lawsuit on April 4, seeking an emergency restraining order to block the rescission of funds. Out of Hand is closely watching the case to see what happens with the potential reinstatement of the HHS funds.
Out of Hand will continue to fight for the program’s survival. “Our mission remains clear: We will use theater as a tool for social justice, and we will keep advocating for a fairer and more equitable world for everyone,” Fristoe stated.
The Georgia Council for the Arts is also facing a proposed $3 million cut under the state’s current budget, placing further strain on arts nonprofits across the region.
The company is urging supporters to contact Gov. Brian Kemp and ask the federal government to restore the funding. Those interested in learning more or getting involved can reach the EqVax team at contact@outofhandtheater.com.
This story was originally published by ArtsATL, Atlanta’s source for arts news.
