During the early 1930’s the United States was amidst the abyss of the Great Depression and right on into the early stages of World War II, unprecedented support from the Federal government was allocated to the world of the arts. For eleven years, between 1933 and 1943, artists, actors, writers, musicians, dancers and photographers were employed through federal tax dollars. Never before in the history of our great nation had the United States government been such an advocate and a sponsor of the arts. The recently inaugurated president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was at the head of this great undertaking and it was obvious that during his first one-hundred days of the New Deal he felt the urgency to put Americans back to work.
By the end of 1932, almost thirteen million Americans were out of work and the soup lines and homelessness were a direct result. Artists from al fields were not immune to the effects the Great Depression had placed upon society. The inability to procure the necessary material with which to work would immediately force the painter, the writer, the musician, and the actor into a world of joblessness. Through the New Deal Roosevelt had put into action, arts projects provided work for these unemployed artists. The scope of this New Deal for the arts would go even farther concentrating itself somewhat on the promotion of American art and culture. Through this President Roosevelt hoped to give more Americans access to what he described as “an abundant life.” For many Americans the projects enabled them to see an original painting for the first time, attend their first professional theater, or take their first music or drawing class.
As with all plans or projects one must expect that along with the positive aspects there will surface some negative. From the beginning there did exist some controversy concerning the arts projects. Believing them to be wasteful propaganda some politicians wanted them ended while others wanted them expanded. This controversy, along with issues associated with the United States’ entry in World War II would eventually end the projects. But much of what was accomplished during those eleven years still exists for our learning experience and enjoyment.
Embedded within much New Deal art was the aspect of Artistic Nationalism. Many forms in which things American existed had an interest taken in them. State and Regional histories were produced by writers, daily life during the Depression was documented by photographers, American heroes (more…)