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President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities

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The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) is an advisory committee to the White House on cultural issues. The PCAH works directly with the Administration and the three primary cultural agencies: the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, as well as other federal partners and the private sector, to address policy questions in the arts and humanities, to initiate and support public/private partnerships in those disciplines and to recognize excellence in the field. Its core areas of focus are arts and humanities education, cultural exchange, and the creative economy.

The Committee is composed of both private and public members. The private members are appointed by the President and represent prominent artists, philanthropists, entrepreneurs and state and local public officials who have a demonstrated commitment to the arts and humanities. Its public ex officio members include the heads of the National Endowment for the Arts; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences; the Departments of Education, Interior, and State; the National Gallery of Art; the Smithsonian Institution; the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and the Library of Congress. The President also appoints a chairman or co-chairmen from among the private members.[1]

In August 2017, all private committee members resigned in protest of President Donald Trump's response to the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.[2][3][4]

Background

The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) was established by Executive Order 12367 of June 15, 1982.[5] The PCAH has conducted major research and policy analysis, and catalyzed important federal cultural programs, both domestic and international. These achievements rely on the PCAH’s unique role in bringing together the White House, federal agencies, civic organizations, corporations, foundations and individuals to strengthen the United States’ national investment in its cultural life. Central to the PCAH mission is using the power of the arts and humanities to contribute to the vibrancy of our society, the education of our children, the creativity of our citizens and the strength of our democracy.

Current programs

Turnaround Arts

Turnaround Arts is a national program that brings arts education to high-poverty elementary and middle schools across the country. It is the first federal program to specifically support arts education as an improvement tool in the country’s lowest-performing schools, and is run by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH), in coordination with the White House, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE), and several foundations.

National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Awards

The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards recognize the country’s best creative youth development programs for increasing academic achievement, graduation rates and college enrollment by engaging children and youth in the arts and humanities. Formerly Coming Up Taller, these annual awards focus national attention on outstanding programs across the country that promote the creativity of America's young people, providing them learning opportunities and the chance to contribute to their communities.. Accompanied by a cash award and a ceremony at the White House with the First Lady, the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards not only reward these projects with recognition but also provide organizational and capacity building support over the course of the year

National Student Poets Program

The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers partner to present the National Student Poets Program (NSPP), the nation’s highest honor for young poets (grades 9-11) presenting original work. Annually, five students are selected for one year of service as literary ambassadors, each representing a geographic region of the country. By elevating and showcasing their work for a national audience, the program strives to inspire other young people to achieve excellence in their own creative endeavors and promote the essential role of writing and the arts in academic and personal success.

Film Forward

Sundance Film Forward is an international touring program designed to enhance greater cultural understanding, collaboration and dialogue around the globe by engaging audiences through the exhibition of films, workshops and conversations with filmmakers. Sundance Film Forward is an initiative of the Sundance Institute and the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The National Endowment for the Humanities was a partner in the program through year five.

Save America's Treasures

Established by Executive Order in 1998, Save America's Treasures (SAT) is a federal public-private partnership that includes the PCAH, NEA, NEH, IMLS, the National Park Service (NPS) and the American Architectural Foundation (AAF). The PCAH and the National Park Service jointly oversee the management of the federal competitive matching grant component, which helps preserve, conserve, and rescue our nation's most significant cultural and heritage resources, including historic structures, collections of artifacts, works of art, maps, manuscripts, and sound recordings. Although funding for the program has been suspended, the PCAH and AAF have convened a series of thought leadership forums to develop elements for framing and catalyzing a preservation strategy that builds on the strengths and success of SAT.

Special initiatives

Through its work with the private sector, the PCAH is able to raise private resources, which can then be directed to special initiatives that support youth programs, recognize artists, broaden arts awareness, and celebrate our nation’s cultural life. Examples include:

· Educational workshops and cultural events programming at the White House;

· The National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medals;

· Annual NEH Jefferson Lecture on the Humanities;

· U.S. Cultural and Heritage Tourism Summit (2005);

August 2017 resignations

On August 18, 2017, 16 of the 17 committee members, including Kal Penn and Chuck Close, resigned in protest of President Donald Trump's response to the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The resigning commissioners stated in a letter to the President, "Reproach and censure in the strongest possible terms are necessary following your support of the hate groups and terrorists who killed and injured fellow Americans in Charlottesville."[2][3][4] The initial letters of each paragraph of the resignation letter spell 'RESIST'. The only member of the committee who did not sign the letter was theater and film director George C. Wolfe, whose representatives stated that he, too, would be resigning and would add his name to the letter.[6] PCAH became the first White House department to quit the Trump administration.[7]

The White House responded with a statement reading in part, "Earlier this month it was decided that President Trump will not renew the Executive Order for the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH), which expires later this year."[8]

Former leadership

Former honorary chairwomen

Former committee chairpeople

Former executive directors

See also

References

  1. ^ "Members". President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  2. ^ a b O'Keefe, Ed (August 18, 2017). "Members of White House presidential arts commission resigning to protest Trump's comments". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Members of the President's Commission on Arts & Humanities resignation letter to President Trump". Scribd. August 18, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Kamal, Sameea; Bierman, Noah (August 18, 2017). "16 members of White House arts panel resign to protest Trump's response to Charlottesville". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  5. ^ "Executive Orders | Executive Order 12367--President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities". National Archives. 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2017-08-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  6. ^ "Citing Trump remarks, most of president's arts council quits". WJLA. AP. August 18, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  7. ^ E.W. (28 Aug 2017). "The White House has become a cultural wasteland". The Economist.
  8. ^ Bat, John (August 19, 2017). "Arts and Humanities Committee members resign in protest of Trump". CBS News. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
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