Since 1965 when it was created by an act of Congress, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has been funding projects designed to support artistic excellence in the community. I think that in the progress of a culture or society, once the basic components are in place such as food and shelter, is when arts can abound. Part of how a culture’s success is judged is on to what degree the arts have an importance in within the society. The NEA is as a result an important marker to where American culture is.
While the NEA awards for programs on a national level, Tennessee has benefited greatly from their offerings, especially in the area that Tennessee is famous for, music.
In 2011, for example, the NEA awarded $1,134,800 in 13 different grants. These ranged from a two given to the Nashville Symphony association, to promote a program to give a free music education program and also one that allowed the recordings of the works of composer Roberta Sierra. They also supported a Nashville Shakespeare Festival.
The following year, 2012, the award amount was slightly lower and they supported a few less programs by giving out $1,037,600. The programs were slightly different but in the same vein.
The one I found to be most interesting was the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art which used award money to use art to help at-risk kids. Through their Art Therapy Access Program, families, adults, and youth were able to receive art therapy from licensed art therapists which “Combine[d] art, making and the unique environment of the museum to facilitate interactive group experiences.
A perusal of the NEA’s website and other programs that benefited Tennessee makes a sufficient case of the important impact the NEA has on the state.
Work Cited
"National Endowment for the Arts Home Page." National Endowment for the Arts Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2013. <http://www.arts.gov/
