Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27

dliu tiic rune VI law, WHICH aTS
our heritage. and to strength
en-. with these aims in view,
through cultural interchange,
the social and cultural ties
which unite us as a people
and with the free nations of
the world with our allies, and
with other States inspired by
the same ideals and animated
by a like determination to
resist aggression:
ITO stimulate private. busi-
ness and foundation giving to
the liberal and fine arts: to
protect and preserve our artis-
tic and historic inheritance
through the protection and
restoration of historic monu-
ments, houses. buildings, and
sections of our cities.
"And finally to destroy the
Communist myth that Ameri-
cans are insensitive, material
istic barbarians."
That Mrs. Riordan will call
me slattern. will she?" shout
ed Mrs. Earwicker as she swept
the dirt under the carpet, til
died her hair and put on a
clean petticoat. The American
National Arts Act seems Curl
ously uneasy about our mis-
understood motives, and about
that nasty old Communist
myth, and curiously uncom-
Portable when talking about
the humanities and fine arts
for which it's heart bleeds.
On the other hand. it rises
to great rhetorical heights
when it reaches the rarified
air which is the oxygen of
statecraft, and can speak of
"our heritage" constitutional
law" declining employment"
"deplorable standards exem-
plified. indignation. co-ordi-
nation. improvement. raising
the standards of" and similar
bypaths which. in considera-
ton of a fine arts program, are
merely gobbledegook.
We are now two thirds
through the bill; we may be
not entirely clear about the
present state of affairs or about
the desideratum to be achieved.
but at last we will know what
is proposed to be done.
$5h Million Authorized
An annual Federal appro-
priation of $5,500.000 is au-
thorized by the bill, of which
100000 may be allocated to
any State which will match
the amount.
The money can be used for
many purposes:
ITO assist the several States
to inventory their existing pro-
grams in the fine arts of music,
dance, theater. literature, ar
chitecture. painting, sculpture,
and the other fine arts. to sur
vey the need for additional
programs in these arts, and
to develop programs and prof.
ects for public and other nom
profit activities in the fine arts
in such manner as will, in
conjunction with existing pro-
grams and facilities. furnish
adequate programs. facilities,
and services in the fine arts to
all their people;
ITO assist in the construc-
ton of public and other nom
profit centers for music, dance,
theater. etc.
To assist in developing
projects and programs de-
signed 10 supply leadership,
training and experience IN the
field of the fine arts. and to
authorize the Secretary ITO
conduct research. experiments
and demonstrations relating
to the effective development
and utilization of facilities
and resources in the fields of
the fine arts. and
, To encourage the presen-
tation in all parts of the
country of productions and
programs in every field of the
fine arts"
The Plan in DetoiI
Then follows a detailed plan
by which the States are to
qualify for certif1cation. 1t
deals mainly with custody of
funds and necessary reports
to the Secretary of Health,
Education and Welfare. The
only reference to the actual
art in this package purchase
is the stipulation that the
States proposition must con-
tain adequate assurances
that high standards will be {
maintained for the fine arts
programs and projects"
Construction projects are
then reviewed, and next
awards of merit. The Secre-
tary will establish a number
of annual awards of merit,
including cash prizes, to honor
American citizens who make
great contributions to the adj
vancelnent of our civilization
and our country in the fields
OF the arts, sciences, profess
sions, sports, labor, business
and agriculture"
Finally. the Secretary of
State is authorized to provide
for the interchange between
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