The U.S. federal government spends significantly less on the country’s arts and humanities than some of its European neighbors.

There are pros and cons to this. Opponents of the National Endowment for the Arts argue that the government should not be in the business of taste making and cite research suggesting that state subsidies actually homogenize the arts due to individuals and organizations adjusting their output to secure funding.

Proponents of arts grants argue that the U.S. government should invest in its arts and culture sector for economic, community and humanitarian reasons, and cite numerous examples of great and famous art that received state support.

Regardless, under President Biden, the NEA budget has crept up, with a $27 million increase in 2022 for a total of $207 million, or .003% of the federal budget. (There are additional proposed increases for 2023.)

And on Wednesday, the NEA announced grants totaling $103 million to organizations in all states and jurisdictions, including Pittsburgh.

Here is the list of area organizations that received funding:

WQED Multimedia: $30,000 to support the WQED Film Academy, a media arts education program.

Carnegie Mellon University: $25,000 to support LIVE! Art && Code, a lecture and workshop series showcasing artists and practitioners working in new media and interactive design.

Center of Life: $25,000 to support mentorship activities as part of the KRUNK Movement, a music and health initiative for youth.

Pittsburgh Glass Center: $25,000 to support an artist residency program.

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: $25,000 to support a multidisciplinary arts festival.

Point Park University: $25,000 to support multidisciplinary arts performances, residencies and artist talks at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

New Hazlett Center for the Performing Arts: $25,000 to support the Community Supported Art residency program.

Society for Contemporary Craft: $25,000 to support the exhibition “Climate Awakening: Crafting a Sustainable Future” at the Society for Contemporary Craft.

Early Music America, Inc. :$20,000 to support the Early Music America Summit, co-hosted by Boston Baroque.

Film Pittsburgh: $20,000 to support Teen Screen, a free digital media literacy program and screening series for middle and high school students.

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council: $20,000 to support a communications and marketing campaign for arts organizations.

Kelly Strayhorn Theater: $20,000 to support dance presentations at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater.

Jeremy Reynolds: jreynolds@post-gazette.com. His work at the Post-Gazette is supported in part by a grant from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Getty Foundation and Rubin Institute.

First Published: May 25, 2023, 9:30 a.m.