Federal Aid to the Arts Bill
The Federal Aid to the Arts Bill represents a significant legislative effort to secure government support for the arts in the United States. Initiated in the mid-20th century, the movement for federal aid gained momentum when arts organizations, led by figures like Senator Nelson A. Rockefeller, sought to establish a framework for government involvement in the arts. The formal establishment of the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson marked a turning point, signaling governmental recognition of the importance of arts funding.
Despite its establishment, the foundation faced challenges, including insufficient financial backing and the complexities of fairly distributing funds across diverse artistic disciplines such as visual arts, theater, and music. Over the years, the debate surrounding the federal government's role in supporting the arts has persisted, raising questions about prioritizing public interests and assessing the value of various art forms. In the subsequent decades, efforts continued to enhance funding mechanisms and criteria for support, reflecting an ongoing commitment to the arts within the American cultural landscape. The evolution of this bill highlights the intricate relationship between government policy and artistic expression, as well as the ongoing discussions about the value of arts in society.
Federal Aid to the Arts Bill
In 1965, Congress elected to support the arts by creating the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities, a holding company for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These endowments could provide grants to states, nonprofit organizations, and individuals to promote the arts and humanities.
Origins and History
In 1948, leaders of twelve national arts organizations formed the Committee on Government and Art to secure federal support for the arts. They investigated the feasibility of federal support, but legislative commitment was minimal. In 1955, Senator Nelson A. Rockefeller, a proponent of the cause, supported an arts bill that passed in the Senate but failed in the House. In 1960, Rockefeller helped form the New York State Council on the Arts, and the same year Michigan created a state arts agency.
In 1960, presidential candidate John F. Kennedy supported an advisory committee on art. He endorsed the development of an advisory council in 1962 and appointed August Heckscher consultant on the arts. Heckscher wrote a report outlining why and how the federal government should support the arts and helped increase governmental and popular support for an arts bill. In 1963, Kennedy issued an executive order creating an arts commission. Kennedy considered Michael Straight for chair of the commission, but scandal erupted when Straight admitted to knowledge of Soviet espionage activities. Kennedy selected Richard Goodwin as commission chair but was assassinated before he could announce his selection. President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Roger Stevens adviser for the bill in 1964. The National Arts and Cultural Development Act of 1964 passed in the House and Senate and was approved by Johnson, who named Stevens chair. The bill established a national council of the arts and a national arts foundation, and in 1965, the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities was created. Although the 1964 act authorized annual appropriations of ten million dollars and a five-million-dollar treasury fund, authorized monies did not match the appropriation and the foundation received only half that amount.
Impact
Although the establishment of the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities sent a positive message that the federal government would support the arts many other issues still had to be addressed. For example, the financial backing provisions were weak and the foundation’s responsibilities were greater than it could conceivably accomplish. In addition, the act allowed money to be allotted to a variety of causes including the visual arts, theater, music, architecture, museums, and art education, but the foundation had the difficult task of deciding who would get how much. In 1969, President Richard M. Nixon asked Congress to double the appropriations of the endowments, which helped the foundation meet more of its goals.
Subsequent Events
Throughout the 1970’s, the foundation’s monetary allotment increased. Improvements in the system, such as establishing a panel to judge requests for money and setting specific goals and criteria, helped the foundation function. Since the 1960’s, questions have arisen regarding whether the federal government should support the arts, how anyone can determine the value of one kind of art over another, and whether welfare or the public interest should take priority.
Additional Information
Gary Larson’s The Reluctant Patron: The United States Government and the Arts (1983) examines the role of the government in supporting the arts.