Advocacy
Government Funding for the Arts and Humanities
CAA monitors and advocates for federal funding for the arts and humanities in a variety of areas, including: research, education, preservation and access, exhibitions, and public programs. The lead federal agencies in this area are the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Office of Museum Services (OMS) within the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).The NEA broadens public access to the arts for all Americans. Each year, the NEA awards more than one thousand grants to nonprofit arts organizations for projects that bring the arts to millions.
The NEH is the largest single funder of humanities programs in the United States, enriching American intellectual and cultural life through support to museums, archives, libraries, colleges, universities, state humanities councils, public television and radio, and to individual scholars.
The OMS aims to increase and improve the services of America’s 8,000 museums attracting over 865 million visitors annually, with support to museums of all kinds: art, history, science, children’s specialized collections, and living collections such as zoos and aquariums.
New National Project to Examine Impact of Arts Training
May 2008
The Strategic National Arts Alumni Project will examine factors that help or hinder the careers of graduates of arts high schools, arts colleges and conservatories, and arts schools and departments within universities. Click here to read more. Special House Hearing Highlights NEA and NEH Programs
May 2008
The Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee in the House of Representatives hosted a hearing to discuss the NEA and NEH. Click here to read more. CAA at Arts Advocacy Day
May 2008
Delegates representing CAA participated in this year's Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, DC, held March 31-April 1, 2008. Click here to read more. President's Budget Requests $271,246,000 for IMLS
February 2008
President Bush's budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2009 seeks $271,246,000 for the Institute of Museum and Library Service. The request represents an increase of $26,023,000, or 10.6 percent, over the FY 2008 enacted level for the institute's programs and administration. Click here to read more. Arts Advocacy Day and Humanities Advocacy Day
January 2008
As a national cosponsor of Arts Advocacy Day and Humanities Advocacy Day, CAA encourages its members to participate in one or both of these important advocacy events, held annually in Washington, DC. Click here to read more. Participants Sought for March Hearings on Museum Funding
January 2008
Avid museum goers, community leaders, museum professionals, and individuals who have encountered barriers to museum going are encouraged to make their views known at one of three public hearings on the use of public funds for museums. Click here to read more. Join Americans for the Arts' Cultural Policy Listserv
October 2007
Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, and New York that promotes and advances the arts in America, invites you to join its Cultural Policy listserv to receive the latest in arts advocacy news. Click here to read more. Advocacy Days in Washington
June 2007
CAA once again cosponsored Arts Advocacy Day, hosted by Americans for the Arts, and Humanities Advocacy Day, hosted by the National Humanities Alliance. Click here to read more. House Subcommittee Approves NEH Funding Increase
June 2007
On Wednesday, May 23, the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved an increase of $19 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities, for a total fiscal year 2008 funding of $160 million. Click here to read more. House Approves $160 Million for NEA
May 2007
The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee that provides funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) approved a $35 million increase for the NEA in its FY 2008 spending bill. Click here to read more. NEH and IMLS Advancing Knowledge Grants
March 2007
Applications for the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Endowment for the Humanities grant program, "Advancing Knowledge: The IMLS/NEH Digital Partnership" are now available. Click here to read more. NEA Grants for 2007
March 2007
In December, the National Endowment for the Arts announced that it will award $19.4 million for 848 grants during fiscal year 2007. Click here to read more. Senators Support NEA and NEH
March 2007
In September, Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) circulated a "Dear Colleague" memo, asking his fellow senators to cosign a letter in support of increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Click here to read more. 2007 Arts Advocacy Day and Humanities Advocacy Day
December 2006
As a national cosponsor of Arts Advocacy Day and Humanities Advocacy Day, CAA encourages its members to participate in both of these important advocacy events, held annually in Washington, DC. Click here to read more. November Elections Bode Well for Arts
December 2006
The change in party leadership in Congress brings hope for increased support for the arts. Click here to read more. New Charity Awards $50,000 Artists' Grants
November 2006
A new charity, United States Artists, has announced a plan to provide support to US artists. Click here to read more. Cultural Preservation Grants
November 2006
The Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, funded through the US State Department, has announced its 2006 awards. Click here to read more. Museums for America Grants
November 2006
In July, the Institute of Museum and Library Services announced Museums for America grant recipients for 2006. Click here to read more. NEH Digital Humanities Initiative
November 2006
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced a new Digital Humanities Initiative that will support projects that use digital technology to transform scholarly research. Click here to read more. RAND Study on State Arts Agencies
November 2006
A new RAND report, entitled "The Arts and State Governments: At Arm's Length or Arm in Arm?", recommends that state arts agencies seeking increased state government support for the arts should strengthen their relationships with elected officials and raise their organizations' profile with the public. Click here to read more. Legislative Update
November 2006
In contrast to the House version of the Interior Appropriations bill, in which the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities received an increase of $5 million each, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved level funding for both endowments. Click here to read more. IMLS to Give $1.5 Million in Aid
September 2006
On June 1, 2006, First Lady Laura Bush announced that an additional $1.5 million of Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funds will be directed to help beleaguered museums and libraries located in federally declared disaster areas. Click here to read more. IMLS Creates Grants Website
September 2006
The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced that all fiscal year 2007 grant applications are available on a new website, Grants.gov. Click here to read more. NEH Dear Colleague Letter
July 2006
On April 6, 2006, Congressmen David Price (D-NC) and Jim Leach (R-IA) submitted a "Dear Colleague" letter in support of increased funding for National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) with the signatures of 117 representatives to Chairman Charles Taylor and Ranking Member Norman Dicks of the House Appropriations Subcommittee. Click here to read more. NEA Awards $700,000 in Hurricane Relief Grants
July 2006
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has given $700,000 in grants to support arts organizations in the Gulf Coast region that were affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year. Click here to read more. NEA Awards Over $63 Million in Grants
July 2006
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will award more than $63 million in grants to arts organizations nationwide in its second major round of funding for fiscal year 2006. Click here to read more. NEA and NEH Turn Forty
July 2006
On September 29, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act into law. Click here to read more. Action Alert
May 2006
The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to consider an Interior Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2007 on Thursday, May 18. Click here to read more. One Percent Rescissions for NEA and NEH
April 2006
As part of hurricane relief efforts, Congress has approved a 1 percent across-the-board rescission (or reduction) to all fiscal year 2006 appropriations, except for emergency spending and veterans programs. Click here to read more. Urge Your Representatives to Sign "Dear Colleague" Letters
March 2006
Two "Dear Colleague" letters are being circulated in the House of Representatives. Click here to read more. Hurricane Katrina Federal Funding Update
March 2006
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Congress approved legislation that redirects funds not used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to other agencies. Click here to read more. Arts Advocacy Day and Humanities Advocacy Day
January 2006
CAA is a national cosponsor of Arts Advocacy Day and Humanities Advocacy Day. We encourage all members to participate in both events. Click here to read more. 2005 Election Impact on the Arts
January 2006
The Americans for the Arts Action Fund has completed its preliminary report of the "2005 Election Impact on the Arts." Click here to read more. NEH FY 2006 Budget
November 2005
Congress approved the final FY 2006 Interior appropriations bill on July 29th, and the President signed it into law on August 2. The bill (H.R. 2361), which supports a number of cultural programs, was passed with an internal 0.476 percent across-the-board rescission. The National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts each received a $5 million increase on the House and Senate floors , which was reduced to a net increase of $4.4 million for the NEA and $4.3 million for the NEH after the rescission. Total FY 2006 funding for NEA currently stands at $125,660,000 and the NEH at $142,373,000. Should additional government-wide rescissions be imposed, these would almost certainly be applied to the Interior bill, further reducing funding for NEA, NEH and other programs. Click here to read more. HEA-Title VI International Education Programs
October 2005
Senate legislation reauthorizing HEA-Title VI International Education programs is moving closer to a vote. The bill, (S. 1614) “Higher Education Amendments of 2005,” differs significantly from its House counterpart, HR 609, in that it does not call for creation of an International Advisory Board to oversee foreign language and area studies programs supported by the Department of Education. The advisory board proposed by the House’s education committee has caused extensive controversy since it was first introduced in the previous Congress. Click here to read more. Library of Congress FY 2006 Budget
October 2005
Congress has approved and the President has signed a FY 2006 legislative branch spending bill that includes funding for two major conservation projects for the Library of Congress and completion of a six-year effort to reengineer the Copyright Office for the digital age. Click here to read more. Museums Hit by Hurricanes Encouraged to File FEMA Claims
October 2005
The Heritage Emergency Task Force is encouraging museums hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to fill out FEMA's Request for Public Assistance Form (FEMA Form 90-49) as soon as possible so they can be assigned a case number. The one-page form does not require specific damages so institutions may file even if staff have not been able to perform a damage assessment. Visit the Heritage Emergency Task Force Hurricane 2005 Website for links to the Forms and other information such as deadlines and FEMA contact information.Click here to read more.
Action Alert - Final Push for FY 2006 Appropriations
October 2005
Please contact your Senators and Representatives to tell their party leadership and the chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to support the $37.4 million for IMLS approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee in H.R. 3010. A funding increase for IMLS is in the works as the House approved an additional $1 million and the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $3 million increase over the agency's FY 2005 funds. The House and Senate will need to negotiate these differences before sending a final version to the President for approval. If approved, these modest gains in funding will enable the agency to support more grants to help deliver museum services to the public. Tell your representatives that the people in your community benefit from the support IMLS offers our nation’s museums. To contact your Senators and Representatives please click here. Click here to read more. Katrina Tax Legislation Affects all Charitable Gifts Through 2005
October 2005
In addition to Katrina relief appropriations, Congress has passed a tax relief package for disaster survivors along with a tax incentive package for charitable giving to all nonprofits. In order to help ensure that charitable giving to non-Katrina causes does not suffer, Congress passed an emergency tax bill that significantly raises the charitable deduction limits on individual gifts for the rest of this calendar year. Under previous law, individuals could deduct cash gifts up to 50 percent of their income. Now through December 31, 2005, individuals may deduct up to 100 percent of their income for both Katrina and non-Katrina causes. Obviously, this affects only people who are wealthy enough to give away so much of their annual income. Nevertheless, the bill should result in increased giving, both to hurricane-related and to other causes. Source: Americans for the Arts
Click here to read more.
Katrina Relief Funding Update
October 2005
Congress has passed two very large emergency relief packages totaling $62 billion, most of which has gone to FEMA. Museums, nonprofit arts organizations that are located in historic buildings, and government agencies may be able to qualify for FEMA assistance. Congress is now working on a third "supplemental" package, which will have a broader range. Negotiations are currently under way to allocate up to $20 million of relief funding through the National Endowment for the Arts for grants. These supplemental bills are all for FY 2006 funding. Another possibility is that additional arts funding would be wrapped into a fourth package or, more remotely, could be included in appropriations for FY 2007.Click here to read more.
Action Alert: Please contact your Congress Representatives
October 2005
United States Small Business Administration (SBA) [http://www.sba.gov/index.html] Arts organizations currently can immediately pursue low-interest Physical Disaster Business Loans from SBA, which cover property losses that are not insured or are underinsured. Unfortunately, nonprofit groups are not allowed to apply for SBA Economic Injury loans, which provide working capital. A coalition led by the YMCA of the USA has been formed to try to change this policy. To learn more and to get talking points for writing your representatives please click here. Click here to read more. Arts Funding Is Threatened: Take Action Now!
September 2005
As last year, the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill to eliminate FY 2006 funding for federal Arts in Education grants through the U.S. Department of Education. Last year, fourteen grants totaling about $3.9 million were made to support the development, implementation, and expansion of arts education programs and the integration of arts instruction into the core curriculum. Additionally, 23 new awards totaling $6,169,184 were made in the Professional Development for Arts Educators Grant Program, which supports the implementation of high-quality programs in elementary and secondary education for music, dance, drama, media arts, and visual arts. Click here to read more. Contact Your Member of Congress
September 2005
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Republican Study Committee (RSC) has called for eliminating all funding for the NEA, the NEH, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The RSC is a policy body that advises conservative Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Click here to read more. Senate Cultural Caucus Formed
July 2005
Senators Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.), and Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) have come together to serve as co-chairs of a new bipartisan Senate caucus. In the letter announcing its formation, the Senate Cultural Caucus seeks “to bring focus to the arts and humanities and the positive impact they have on our daily lives.” The caucus, which will likely serve as a strong base of support for pro-arts legislation in the Senate, will highlight the work of the three primary federal cultural agencies: the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Click here to read more. New Executive Director at the National Humanities Alliance
July 2005
The National Humanities Alliance board of directors has named Jessica Jones Irons its new executive director. She succeeds John Hammer, who retired in December 2004 after seventeen years in the position. Click here to read more. Report From Washington: Humanities Advocacy Day and Arts Advocacy Day
July 2005
CAA co-sponsored Arts Advocacy Day (March 14–15, 2005), hosted by Americans for the Arts, and Humanities Advocacy Day (April 6–7, 2005), hosted by the National Humanities Alliance. Both events were held in Washington, D.C., and brought together a broad cross-section of national cultural organizations, academics, and grassroots arts leaders to promote the arts, arts education, and humanities to Congress through increased support for the federal cultural agencies. Click here to read more. Budget Requests for Federal Arts Agencies
May 2005
In early February, President George W. Bush released his fiscal year 2006 budget, which calls for level funding for both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Click here to read more. NEA/NEH Funding Update
March 2005
In early February, President George W. Bush’s fiscal year 2004 budget was released, which calls for increases to both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) over their 2003 amounts. Click here to read more. Join CAA for Arts Advocacy Day and Humanities Advocacy Day
March 2005
Once again, CAA will be a national cosponsor of Arts Advocacy Day and Humanities Advocacy Day in 2005—we encourage our members to participate in both events. Click here to read more. Advocacy Update
September 2004
In advance of the November 2004 United States presidential election, CAA would like to provide our members with information on where the Democratic and Republican candidates stand vis-à-vis federal funding for the arts and humanities. Click here to read more. Report from Washington: Humanities Advocacy Day and Arts Advocacy Day
July 2004
CAA cosponsored this year’s Humanities Advocacy Day (March 15–16, 2004), hosted by the National Humanities Alliance, and Arts Advocacy Day (March 29–31, 2004), hosted by Americans for the Arts; both took place in Washington, D.C. These two events brought together a broad cross-section of national cultural organizations, academics, and grassroots arts leaders to promote the arts, arts education, and the humanities to Congress by requesting increased support for federal cultural agencies. Click here to read more. Join CAA in Washington for Humanities Advocacy Day and Arts Advocacy Day
March 2004
Once again, CAA will be a national co-sponsor of Humanities Advocacy Day and Arts Advocacy Day; we encourage our members to participate in both events.Click here to read more.
Join CAA for Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C., in March
March 2004
It’s not too late! You can still sign up to participate in Humanities Advocacy Day and Art Advocacy Day! Click here to read more. NEA and NEH Receive Budget Increases
January 2004
The House-Senate 2004 Interior Appropriations Conference Committee agreed on significant budget increases for the National Endowment for the Arts ($6.7 million) and the National Endowment for the Humanities ($11.2 million). The House and the Senate approved the conference report in the fall. Click here to read more. Update on State Arts Funding
November 2003
With state budgets suffering, most state arts agencies have experienced cuts in funding in fiscal year (FY) 2004. Of the forty-two state arts agencies reporting a budget decrease for the current fiscal year, ten had reductions of more than 15 percent. Unfortunately, the cuts come after an already bleak FY 2003. The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies reports that forty-two states diminished their arts budgets during the last fiscal year, with California and Massachusetts alone accounting for $44 million in losses. State arts funding plunged from $410 million two years ago to about $350 million in FY 2003. Despite attempts by some state legislators to dissolve completely state arts agencies as a cost-saving measure, currently fifty state and six jurisdictional government arts agencies are still operating. The various arts agencies help to support both established and emerging local artists and art organizations through grants and programs. They also help to bring art to rural and other underserved areas of the country, providing art education in schools and, in some cases, spurring economic development through the arts. Click here to read more. NEH and NEA Funding Update
September 2003
At press time, the fiscal year 2004 budgets for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) had not been finalized. In mid-July the Congress-ional Arts Caucus introduced an amendment, sponsored by Representatives Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Chris Shays (R-CT), Norm Dicks (D-WA), and Jim Leach (R-IA), to increase funding for the NEH by an additional $5 million over the House Appropriations Committee’s mark of $137 million (for a total of $142 million). The amendment also sought to increase funding for the NEA by $10 million above the committee’s mark of $117 million (for a total of $127.5 million). Thirty-five Republicans joined Democrats in passing the Congressional Arts Caucus amendment a few days after it was introduced. Click here to read more. Report From Washington: Humanities Advocacy Day and Arts Advocacy Day
May 2003
CAA cosponsored Humanities Advocacy Day (February 25, 2003), hosted by the National Humanities Alliance, and Arts Advocacy Day (March 26, 2003), hosted by Americans for the Arts, in Washington, DC. Both events brought together a broad cross-section of national cultural organizations, academics, and grassroots arts leaders to promote the arts, arts education, and humanities to Congress through increased support for the federal cultural agencies. Click here to read more. NEA/NEH Funding Update
March 2003
In early February, President George W. Bush’s fiscal year 2004 budget was released, which calls for increases to both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) over their 2003 amounts. Click here to read more. House Reauthorizes IMLS
March 2003
On March 6, 2003, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 (H.R. 13), a bill to reauthorize the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The authorization allows up to $35 million for the Museum Services program and $210 for the Library Services and Technology program. Click here to read more. NEA and NEH Funding Still Delayed
January 2003
At press time, Congress had passed yet another Continuing Resolution (CR), once again postponing action on the annual appropriations, including those for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and virtually the entire federal government, except for the Pentagon. The recently passed CR gives the new Republican-controlled 108th Congress until January 11, 2003, to make changes and decisions about federal-agency appropriations for fiscal year 2003. As a result of this, most federal agencies will continue to operate at last year’s appropriation levels for what will be at least a quarter of the new fiscal year. Click here to read more. President Bush to Nominate California Poet to Chair the NEA
January 2003
On October 23, 2002, President George W. Bush announced his intention to nominate poet, critic, and educator Dana Gioia as the next chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Gioia is best known for his book about the role of poetry in contemporary culture, Can Poetry Matter? Essays on Poetry and American Culture (St. Paul, MN: Graywolf Press, 1992). He has taught as a visiting writer at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY, and Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. Previously, he spent fifteen years as a business executive for General Foods. Once the nomination is made, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will review it. Once confirmed, the new chair will serve a four-year term. Click here to read more. Participate in Arts and Humanities Advocacy Events
January 2003
CAA will again be a national cosponsor of two arts and humanities advocacy events in Washington, DC, this year. Click here to read more. IMLS Reauthorization Measure
November 2002
In addition to appropriations bills, there are a number of other legislative initiatives ready for a vote, including the Museum and Library Services Act of 2002 (H.R. 3784), a reauthorization measure for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Click here to read more. NEA and NEH Funding Delayed
November 2002
At press time, not a single appropriations bill for fiscal year 2003 had been presented to President George W. Bush for his signature. Indeed, the House-Senate conference committee was still debating amendments to the Interior Appropriations Bill, which includes funds for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). As reported in the September 2002 issue of CAA News, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment last July to increase funding by $10 million for the NEA (for a total of $127 million) and $5 million for the NEH (for a total of $131.9 million) over President Bush’s fiscal year 2003 budget request; however, it is not at all clear that the Senate will agree to these increases. Congress will most likely finish work on a majority of the spending bills, including the Interior Appropriations Bill, after the November elections. Click here to read more. House Passes Amendment to Increase Fiscal Year 2003 Funding for NEA and NEH
September 2002
On July 17, 2002, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment to increase funding by $10 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and $5 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) over President Bush’s fiscal year 2003 budget request. The amendment directs the $10 million increase for the NEA to the agency’s “Challenge America” program, an initiative designed to extend the reach of arts programs to underserved communities. No specifications were made for the additional NEH funding. Click here to read more. Report from Washington: Arts Advocacy Day and Jefferson Day
March 2002
CAA cosponsored Arts Advocacy Day on March 11–12, 2002, hosted by Americans for the Arts, and Jefferson Day on March 21–22, 2002, hosted by the National Humanities Alliance (NHA), in Washington, DC. Both events brought together a broad cross-section of national cultural organizations, academics, and grassroots arts leaders to promote the arts, arts education, and humanities to Congress through increased support for the federal cultural agencies. Click here to read more. Federal Budget Update
February 2002
The White House released its FY 2003 budget proposal on February 4, 2002, in which President George W. Bush calls for dramatic increases in spending for defense (a $48 billion increase), homeland security, and the war on terrorism, and makes dramatic cuts in other programs. In light of this, the nation’s cultural institutions seem to have fared fairly well. Click here to read more. The Future of Arts Funding
January 2002
In the coming year, it will be more important than ever for people working in the arts and humanities to advocate for increased federal funding for arts and cultural programs, since they are often the first programs to be cut in an economic recession. The federal budget process begins in February 2002, we urge you to participate in the following arts and humanities advocacy events in Washington, DC, co-sponsored by CAA : Arts Advocacy Day, March 11–12, 2002, and Jefferson Day, March 21–22, 2002. Both events will bring together artists, scholars, and others to express the importance of federal support for the arts and humanities to Congressional leaders. Click here to read more. Heritage Preservation Receives Chairman's Emergency Grant from the NEH
January 2002
Heritage Preservation received a Chairman's Emergency Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for "A Survey and Report on the Extent of Damage and Loss to Cultural Resources after the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks." The project will collect information about the impact of the destruction of the World Trade Center towers on 99 museums, libraries, and archives; 67 historic landmarks; and 245 works of outdoor sculpture in lower Manhattan, along with significant art collections and business archives maintained by many nonprofit organizations. A report will document the extent of damage and loss to cultural resources and the responses of museums, libraries, and archives to this unprecedented tragedy. Click here to read more. Center for Materials Research and Education Saved
January 2002
Because of successful lobbying by arts advocates, the FY 2002 Interior Appropriations bill also includes funds for the Center for Materials Research and Education at the Smithsonian Institution, despite the fact that the Bush administration previously had accepted the Smithsonian leadership's proposal to close the Center. It will remain open for at least another year. Click here to read more. Bruce Cole Sworn In as Chairman of the NEH
December 2001
The art historian Bruce Cole was sworn in December 11, 2001, as the eighth chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Previously, he taught for twenty-eight years at Indiana University in Bloomington, where he was distinguished professor of fine arts and chairman of the Department of the History of Art. Click here to read more. Congressional Update
November 2001
Partisan bickering is likely to be replaced with a concerted effort to quickly complete work on the appropriations bills in light of the recent terrorist attacks. Many of the controversial appropriations issues are likely to take a back seat, and spending bills could be consolidated under one large piece of legislation to expedite the process. Click here to read more. Henry Moran Appointed Executive Director of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities
November 2001
The Mid-America Arts Alliance (MAAA) Executive Director Henry Moran has accepted an appointment by President George W. Bush to serve as executive director of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. At MAAA, a nonprofit regional arts organization based in Kansas City, Mo., Moran has worked in partnership with state arts agencies, with the National Endowment for the Arts, and with foundations and corporations on regional, multiregional, national, and international arts and humanities programs. Click here to read more. Michael Hammond Nominated to Chair NEA
November 2001
Michael Hammond, currently Dean of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, TX, has been selected by President Bush to chair the National Endowment for the Arts. Hammond was educated at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, and Delhi University in India, and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in England. He has earned degrees in philosophy, psychology, and physiology. As a composer and conductor, Hammond has written numerous scores for theater in the United States and abroad. His interests include the music of Southeast Asia, Western Medieval and Renaissance music, and the relationships between music and the brain. Click here to read more. Bruce Cole Confirmed as Chairman of NEH
November 2001
The Senate confirmed Bruce Cole as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) on September 14, 2001. Cole, an art historian, will teach during the fall term at Indiana University, and will take up his duties at the NEH in December of this year. Click here to read more. Susan Ball elected Vice President of NHA
November 2001
Susan Ball, Executive Director of College Art Association, has been elected Vice President of the National Humanities Alliance, an advocacy organization based in Washington, DC, that speaks on behalf of individuals engaged in research, writing, teaching, and public presentations of the humanities. Her term of service as Vice President will last until May 2002. Click here to read more. Federal Cultural Agencies Receive an Increase in Funds in Fiscal Year 2002
November 2001
On November 5, 2001, President George W. Bush signed the FY 2002 Interior Appropriations bill into law, increasing funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The NEA received a $10.5 million increase; the NEH received a $4.5 million increase; and the IMLS received a $2.1 million increase, compared to FY 2001 funding levels. Click here to read more. New Leadership at the Federal Cultural Agencies
September 2001
In a brief announcement on July 23, 2001, the White House formally nominated Bruce Cole, distinguished professor of fine arts and professor of comparative literature at the Hope School of Fine Arts at Indiana University in Bloomington, to chair the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Arrangements for the transition from the chairmanship of William Ferris to Cole are under development, which means Cole will continue to teach during the fall semester at Indiana University. Ferris, whose four-year term expires in November, will continue as Chair until Cole takes over some time in December. Click here to read more. Smithsonian Institution's Center for Materials Research and Education Closing
July 2001
The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution recently approved Secretary Lawrence M. Small’s proposals for budget cuts in the coming fiscal year that include the closing of the Center for Materials Research and Education. The appropriations committees of Congress will determine this summer whether to approve Small’s budget proposal. If approved, the Center for Materials Research and Education will close December 31, 2001. Click here to read more. Changes at the NEH and NEA
May 2001
President George W. Bush announced May 31, 2001, that he has decided to replace Bill Ferris as chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Bush intends to nominate Bruce Cole, distinguished professor of fine arts and professor of comparative literature at the Hope School of Fine Arts at Indiana University. Cole was appointed by Bush's father to the National Council on the Humanities in 1991 (when Lynne Cheney was chair of the NEH) and served on the council until 1999. Ferris will be allowed to complete his term, which ends in November 2001. Click here to read more. Report from Washington: Arts Advocacy Day and Jefferson Day
March 2001
CAA cosponsored Arts Advocacy Day (March 19–20), hosted by Americans for the Arts, and Jefferson Day (March 26–27), hosted by the National Humanities Alliance, in Washington, D.C. Both events brought together a broad cross-section of national cultural organizations, academics, and grassroots arts leaders to promote the arts, arts education, and humanities to Congress through increased support for the federal cultural agencies. Click here to read more. CAA to Cosponsor Arts Advocacy Day and Jefferson Day
March 2001
With a new administration and Congress, arts and humanities advocates must come together in full force to demonstrate a visible presence on Capitol Hill. Click here to read more. 107th Congress
March 2001
As a result of House rules prohibiting chairpersons from serving more than three terms, there is a new chairperson for the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Representative Joe Skeen (R-NM), and a new Chair for the Senate Subcommittee of the Interior, Senator Conrad Burn (R-MT). Both committees fund the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). While Congressman Skeen has consistently voted no on budget increases for the federal cultural agencies, Senator Burns has opposed Republican-sponsored bills to eliminate the NEA. Click here to read more. Art, Culture, and the National Agenda
January 2001
The Center for Arts and Culture in Washington, D.C., is near completion of a cultural policy document to present to the incoming administration. The document entitled, “Creative Transition,” will focus on the following policy areas: creativity and the law; globalization; access & equity, preservation; community life; federal funding; education; and support for creative workers. Recommendations for the new administration include establishing a cultural advisor to the president; establishing a joint Congressional Committee on Culture; and appointing an undersecretary of culture to the State Department. Click here to read more. Election 2000
January 2001
The election in the Senate was a plus for the federal cultural agencies as three vocal opponents were defeated. They include Spencer Abraham (R-MI) who was defeated by Debbie Stabenow, John Ashcroft (R-MO) who was defeated by Jean Carnahan, and Rod Grams (R-MN) who was defeated by Mark Dayton. Other new Senators likely to be favorable to the arts and humanities include: Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Ben Nelson (D-NE). Click here to read more. NEA, NEH, and IMLS Budget Increases Approved for FY-2001
October 2000
On October 11, 2000, President Clinton signed HR4578, the Interior and Related Agencies appropriations bill for FY-2001. Flanked at the Rose Garden signing by National Endowment for the Arts's (NEA) Chairman, Bill Ivey, and National Endowment for the Humanities's (NEH) Bill Ferris, the President hailed the bill as " a truly historic achievementachieved in genuinebipartisan spirit to create permanent basis for preserving our natural heritage and advancing common artistic cultural values." Click here to read more. Protection for Nonprofit Postal Rates
October 2000
In October, President Clinton signed legislation (S. 2686) that sets the postal rate for nonprofit mailers at 40 percent of the commercial rate. If legislation had not passed, nonprofit postal rates would have faced possible increases of as much as 48.6 percent for 2001. At a time when funding for the arts is already low, assisting nonprofit organizations, and especially nonprofit arts organizations with preferred postal rates, will be essential in many cases to their very survival. Click here to read more. The NEH's Jefferson Day
May 2000
CAA joined representatives from Cornell University and Columbia University on March 28, 2000, to support the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Visits were conducted with a number of representatives from New York State to discuss future funding of the agency and to ask for support of President Bill Clinton’s request of $150 million for the National Endowment for the Arts and the NEH. Click here to read more. Status Quo Reigns in Washington on Arts Advocacy Day
May 2000
On January 27, 2000, President Bill Clinton once again proposed a $150 million budget for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This would be an increase of $50 million over the previous budget. Last year, on July 14, 1999, the Slaughter Horn Amendment for the NEA was turned down in the House of Representatives by a very narrow margin of 217 to 207. If the Slaughter Horn Amendment had passed that would have been, after negotiations, only a $10 million increase for the NEA. We find this unacceptable and urge you to contact your representatives in Congress; see www.visi.com/juan/congress/ziptoit.html. This site allows you to find out who represents you in Congress and how to contact their office. The vote on the NEA appropriation will be during the summer. Click here to read more. 