Demystifying the US Ecosystem: Myth 1 & 2

It is the rationale that a centralized government department would ultimately censor freedom and expression that has prevented the U.S. from creating such an institution although the debate over the need for a “cultural ministry” does resurface periodically. Additionally, the United States does not sponsor a national cultural portal or a cultural observatory. However, the United States government does invest in the arts and culture through other mechanisms and models with a focus on partnerships and diversity. Thus, American cultural policy is made at the federal, state and local level and the ecosystem represents multiple collaborations between the government, academia, civil society, foundations and the private sector. In the years between 1989-1992 this system was questioned with the eruption of bitter “Culture Wars” where debates over “obscene art” resulted in calls for the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities (NEA & NEH) to be dismantled. Today the most prominent public policies relating to culture concern arts education, the creative sector, demographic change, immigration, intellectual property, media consolidation, and public diplomacy.

Constitutional Values & Identity

The United States has none of the traditional nation-state characteristics such as an official national culture, ethnicity, language or religion. American citizens and residents, despite a Puritanical and individualistic legacy, a common language of English and a primarily Protestant faith, are not bound by a shared culture but rather by shared ideals. America was founded on the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the desire for freedom and democratic participation, and the separation of church and state. Its national ideals are built around the idea that the U.S. is a “nation of immigrants” where in theory there is “liberty and justice for all.” The U.S. now has the third largest population in the world with over 300 million people, of which 36 million (12%) are foreign born, who speak over 322 languages.

The 1787 Constitution, amended 27 times, establishes a separation of powers between the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches and is the guiding document for all legislation and laws. All powers not enumerated in the Constitution are reserved to the people and the states through the Tenth Amendment. The Constitution itself includes copyright protection for creators but subsequent amendments have also had a significant impact on cultural expression and cultural life in the U.S. In particular, it is the First Amendment that articulates the cornerstones of American cultural values and rights but several other amendments listed below also affect cultural rights and citizen participation.

Myth 2: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the de facto Ministry of Culture.

In comparison to other cultural policy systems, it is difficult to identify a primary American representative. In practice it is often the well-known National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) that is perceived as the de facto U.S. federal government department/ministry of culture. The NEA, like its sister the NEH, was created in 1965 not as a federal department but as a semi-autonomous agency reinforcing the British tradition of an “arms length” federal approach to investment and management of the arts and culture. While the NEA and its Chairman do often represent the U.S. internationally so do representatives from other cultural agencies and institutions, such as the Library of Congress. The NEA cannot be equated to a ministry or minister of culture because the agency’s purview is not as broad and proportionally its budget is the smallest of all the U.S. cultural agencies. Management of culture at the national level is interwoven between numerous federal independent agencies and Cabinet Departments responsible for over 200 initiatives and programs that support the arts and culture. Priorities and programs are guided by federally enacted legislation and challenges are interpreted through the court system. A chart of major federal departments, agencies, and bodies who implement arts and cultural programs is available by clicking here.

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