On September 29, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, creating the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
This week the NEA launched a year-long celebration of their 50th anniversary as well as a new section of their website devoted to the federal agency’s history, accomplishments, contributions and impact.
Included in this new web section are an interactive timeline, a listing of NEA 50th anniversary events taking place throughout the country, and new NEA fact sheets on various aspects of the agency’s work. Our favorite section, however, is the United States of Arts. Here, the NEA is gathering stories from the general public and grantees, elected officials and agency directors, artists and art lovers across the country about the importance of art in their lives and their communities. These stories are grouped by state and already, you will find a handful of testimonials from Arizona residents, including Representative Raul Grijalva. You can also submit your own story.
We invite you to visit and explore this new web section of the NEA site and to contribute your own voice to the 50th anniversary celebration. Let the nation know what federal funding for the arts means to you and your community.
