The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 declared that the humanities are essential for enhancing America’s global leadership “in the realm of ideas and of the spirit,” and for supporting U.S. democracy, which “demands wisdom and vision in its citizens.”
The National Endowment for the Humanities was born from these declarations. It is the only federal agency dedicated to the humanities, encompassing history, literature, linguistics, law, philosophy, archaeology, language, comparative religion and ethics. Its companion agency, the National Endowment for the Arts, is the largest federal funder of the arts and arts education in the country, supporting communities to engage with and practice such creative work as painting, sculpture, music and dance.
The 1965 founding legislation captures the government’s original belief that the humanities are vital for the greater good of society, enabling citizens to flourish both as individuals and in their civic lives. The humanities embodied then — and still embody now — the high value Americans should place on preserving the nation’s cultural heritage and fostering respect for the diverse beliefs and values that define our nation.
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