Author: Knight, Robert H.

Publication Year:

Media Type: Periodical (article)

Summary:

Abstract:

The National Endowment for the Arts remains embroiled in controversy. NEA defenders call it a battle over censorship. But this is an attempt to divert attention from the real issues: to what extent the federal government should fund the arts; to what extent American culture is affected. But NEA's woes go beyond some of the controversy over grants to artists who delight in sexually shocking audiences.

Some of the more serious problems at NEA include: Bias against traditional forms of art and traditional values in general; Bias against religion, rejecting positive portrayals of religious themes as violating the separation of church and state, but funding attacks on religion as artistic expression; Elevation of freedom of expression and artistic merit as the main criteria for grants, ignoring the NEA's charter legislation of 1965, which set encouragement of excellence as the No. 1 criterion, followed by access to the arts for all Americans; Confusion by upper management about how to comply with congressionally mandated standards; Confusion about NEA's primary mission; Conflicts of interest in the grant-awarding process; A bureaucracy openly hostile to public scrutiny...

Although there is no clear consensus among those who feel the agency is salvageable, suggested reforms include: Greater oversight of the peer panel selection process.... Minimal content restrictions.... Abolishing the inter-Arts grant category.... Abolishing grants to individuals.... Increasing the emphasis on basic skills in arts education.... Promoting excellence as the prime criterion, as the NEA charter explicitly requires. (p. 29-31)

CONTENTS
Bias and Confusion.
Attacking Standards.
What is the NEA?
Fostering Arts Growth.
Expert Panels.
Overhauling the Arts.
Strict Guidelines.
Lack of Balance.
NEA Stonewalling.
Exaggerated numbers.
Risk-taking.
Arts Education.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Arts Education