In the 2001 landmark school financing case Campaign for Fiscal Equity vs. State of New York, Justice DeGrasse addressed the role of the arts in education. In his ruling, access to a complete education—an education that includes the arts—is the right, not the privilege, of students attending public schools in the state of New York. He went on to acknowledge the potential special benefits of an arts education for students from disadvantaged circumstances.

It is a pleasure to be a part of this day and a part of your initiative, Cultural Policy at the Grassroots. My remarks are based on a report I authored for The McKnight Foundation, A New Angle – Arts Development in the Suburbs. The report looks at suburban arts in a metropolitan context and has many parallels for the work that you are doing here in Prince William County.

This issue paper, National Investment in the Arts, is the sixth in the Art, Culture and the National Agenda series. Written by Dr. Bruce A. Seaman from Georgia State University, National Investment in the Arts looks at the ways in which the public sector supports the arts in America through direct grantmaking, tax policies, and other public policies. This issue paper, like others in the series, reflects the opinions and research of its author, who was informed by commissioned background papers and the assistance of the Center’s Research Advisory Council. The paper does not...

Most of the formal studies of cultural policy concentrate on the role of central governments and their approaches to supporting the arts, creative industries and heritage. Less attention has been given to cultural policy at the sub-national level.

One organization has defined cultural policy as, “in the aggregate, the values and principles, which guide any social entity in cultural affairs.”

Since the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, the federal government has been mandated “to be a good steward in managing the historic resources under its administration.” A large number of federal agencies are responsible for multiple use public lands, national parks, and military installations. Together, they own thousands of archeological sites, historic structures, and millions of historic artifacts and documents that comprise U.S. history and culture. Lack of leadership and funding, along with conflicting priorities, hinder the agencies’ abilities to...