The Creative Coalition congratulates Rocco Landesman, the new Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and Former Representative Jim Leach, the new Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), upon their confirmation by the Senate this afternoon. Both men were confirmed by unanimous consent and are expected to begin work next week.
“The Creative Coalition is gratified that the Senate has confirmed Rocco Landesman and Representative Leach before going into recess,” said Robin Bronk, Executive Director of The Creative Coalition. “In these tough economic times, the support provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities is that much more important. These two agencies are vital to community arts programs, artists, museums and scholars all across the country. America’s investment in the arts and humanities pays big returns for our culture and our economy.”
The Creative Coalition has long supported increased funding for the NEA and NEH. While Congress has approved increased funding levels for both agencies in recent years, including a one-time funding grant to the NEA as part of the stimulus package enacted earlier this year, too many worthy programs are left underfunded and unable to serve the public. The Creative Coalition has joined with other arts advocates in calling for a significant increase in the appropriations levels for the NEA and NEH for the upcoming fiscal year.