Benedict, Final Report

Final Report of the American Assembly – Benedict

*This article was written to summarize the changes that the NEA needed to take in order to change arts in America.

Six recommendations were made to “reform” the NEA:

1. Art and artists contribute to the nation’s identity, and therefore the private sector and government at all levels should work together to improve the art world and access to it.
2. Excellence and its defining standards should be the criterion of government funding.
3. Because freedom of expression is essential in a democratic society, government policies should never restrict artistic freedom or expression.
4. Government funding should support all art, including art that is unpopular or controversial.
5. Public funding must be administered with the principle that no artist’s work can be changed or suppressed because of race, gender, religion, etc.
6. With public support there is public responsibility. An artist should work to produce the highest quality that they are capable of. Organizations should carry out their mission statements and work to make the public more aware.

The Assembly found five things that the NEA needed to do:

1. Strengthen the institutions that produce and present the arts.
2. Promote greater access to the arts in new and undeserved communities.
3. Continue to support artists through grants, fellowships, and any other assistance irregardless of the form of art being produced (traditional, non-traditional, etc.).
4. Work to increase appropriations to the NEA so that it can be restored to its original buying power in the 1980s.
5. Exercise leadership be strengthening research, funding private research, and assembling conferences on important policy issues.

State and Local Arts Support: This level of arts support has increased over the years, and state contributions are now 60% greater than the NEA’s. This increases the risk of national leadership in the arts decreasing. State and local funding can increase but not at the expense of the NEA. The Assembly had two recommendations: the new provision to increase NEA funding should be reviewed (and possibly modified) by the next Congress; increasing federal allocations should not decrease state allocations (the states should have to match funds at least).

The Assembly developed 6 recommendations for improvement of the case for the arts and their presentation:

1. Art advocates need to improve communication to the public on how government funding of the arts improves the economy and quality of life.

2. Art supporters need to find ways to incorporate people at the grassroots level.

3. Art communities should closely monitor legislation at all government levels that could affect the arts.

4. Art communities need to build alliances with groups that work with the arts (religious organizations, unions, etc.).

5. Art advocated should work with CEO’s who understand the importance of art and will also advocate for art.

6. Art professionals need to develop a network to research, analyze, and continue to exchange information.

For the government to effectively address the cultural requirements of underserved communities:

1. The necessary steps must be taken by public art agencies to make sure that all cultures are recognized in our society.
2. Public art agencies should help artists from underserved communities develop professionally.

The United States needs to develop new international cultural policies. We need to encourage the free and full exchange of art and artists between countries. Exchange programs need to be developed that will take advantage of the abundance of the cultural resources from the increase in new immigrants.

In regards to tax policies the Assembly had two recommendations:

1. Look over the advantages and disadvantages for the arts of proposed and present tax provisions.
2. Identify successful use of tax laws by art institutions and agencies.

On Education: The NEA needs to expand its role in art education advocacy, and there must be equal access to arts education as well.