American Federal Government And Art Funding Pattern

The art funding system in America is complex and dynamic. The money for art programs usually comes from public and private channels. Public money occupies a certain proportion in art funding of America.There is not a single sponsor or supreme organization, or even a Ministry of Culture in America art funding system. The art and culture industry has been flourishing since twentieth century. Public setors of American government began to increase their influence on the art. In 1965, federal government changed its attitude to art and began to focus on its administration. As the largest federal agency funding the arts,NEA approprieates money for the art programs who has applied. Through funding non-profit art organizations, establishing cooperative agreements with states' art agencies and other organizations, especially the partnership with other federal agencies and research centers in National Initiatives, NEA supports outstanding art works, promotes art education and art development.This thesis chooses National Endowment for the Arts(NEA), an important federal agency for art funding, as a studying case to analyse the role of NEA in American art funding syetem. It will elaborate the role of federal government represented by NEA in promoting art among the complex art funding system, reflecting the diversified features of the art funding system at the same time. Furthermore, this thesis will discuss the relation between NEA and other funding ways , the influence of NEA to American art development and the experience China could draw on from NEA.There are four parts in this thesis:In the first part,the author elaborates the administration history of American federal government in funding arts. The introduction of art funding and its development in American society before the establishment of NEA is included in this part.The second part is mainly about the establishing history of NEA and its founding backgrounds. It analyses the causes why NEA was founded in 1960s, which is from the perspective of intellectual environment, administration and legislation offices,and economic theory.The third part discusses the features of NEA during these 40 years,from 1965 to 2005. It points out that NEA got excellent achievements in bringing arts to all people from the perspective of NEA's appropriate history and its art programs.NEA worked directly with private sectors through cooperative agreements and made public and private money flowing successfully to support arts. The allotment of NEA money and public/private partnership during each NEA chairman's tenure are analysed in this part.The fourth part of this thesis mainly discusses the structure and developing pattern of NEA. It highlights the role of federal agencies, of which NEA is a typical case, in the whole American art funding system, and the influence of NEA art funding pattern on American art world. Finally, it analyses what experience China, a developing country, could draw on from NEA's developments.