The New Deal Fine Arts Projects

The fine arts projects of the New Deal period were created from an often conflicting set of goals that included relief for unemployed artists, a desire to educate the public in the fine arts, and the practical need to decorate Federal office buildings and post offices. The single largest experiment in the creation of publicly funded art in American history, the projects included the well known WPA Federal Art Project (WPA/FAP), its predecessor, the Public Works of Art Project, and the Treasury Department's Section of Fine Arts (and its successors) which created murals for post offices throughout the nation. The history of various legislative maneuvers which sought to institutionalize the projects are also included. The legacy of these programs is with us today, not only in the works created at the time, but in the careers and creations of artists such as Jackson Pollock, Rockwell Kent, Stuart Davis, Jacob Kainen, and many others whose careers were supported by the New Deal fine arts projects. This book is an exhaustive bibliography of periodical articles, government reports and documents, exhibition catalogs, and monographs on the projects from their inception in subject indexes are included. A history of the projects is provided in an introductory essay. An exhibition chronology, a who's who, and additional documentation on the projects are provided in the appendixes.