Chapter 13.7: Funding for the Arts

Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. Visit arts.gov to learn more about NEA.

Universal Inspiration

We ask ourselves: Why do artists create?

Yes, the visual arts are about a conversation, not just of symbolic meaning but a desire to move the viewer through the many gut reactions we have as humans to the Elements. But artists also create because the process makes them happy, because it nurtures them, because they have to…

Videos

Here is a powerful TED talk about the Right side of the brain –the birthplace and playground of ALL the arts, and what this scientist discovered. You will never forget Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor or her “Stroke of Insight” in the video below (viewed over 10 million times).