Inspiring Women
of the WPA
Hallie Flanagan Davis
led the
Federal Theatre Project
NEWS FLASH!
New Job Stimulus Legislation Introduced:
Join the "2% For Arts Jobs" Campaign!
Since 2010 is the 75th Anniversary of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), WomenArts has been celebrating the women artists who played such key roles in that landmark program. Now there is a more urgent reason to study this important historical precedent.
In March 2010, Representative George Miller (D - California) introduced the Local Jobs for America Act (HR 4812). The goal is to create one million public service jobs with an allocation of $100 billion of federal funds. It is being referred to as a "new WPA", but it does not mention artists.
WomenArts is working with other activists to make sure that the Local Jobs for America Act passes with full funding and that the final version includes a specific allocation of 2% for Arts Jobs. This would create approximately 40,000 jobs for artists, the same number that President Roosevelt employed through the Works Progress Administration in the 1930's.
We are fortunate that Arlene Goldbard, one of the leading advocates for public service jobs for artists, has agreed to work closely with us. We will be publishing her updates to keep the WomenArts community informed about this important issue which has the potential to provide so many jobs to women artists.
More information and action strategies will be coming soon!! To receive our updates, please sign up for our mailing list>>
Celebrating Women Artists of the WPA
Overview
Since 2010 will be the 75th Anniversary of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), WomenArts invites you to honor women artists of the WPA as part of SWAN Day 2010 or any time this year.
The WPA was a federal jobs program designed to stimulate the U.S. economy during the Great Depression of the 1930's. The government recognized that artists had valuable skills to contribute towards the recovery, and the WPA employed over 40,000 artists at its peak. The plays, music, posters, murals, monuments, parks and amphitheaters that they created are still enjoyed by the public today.
There are many parallels between the economic situation in the 1930’s and the current one. Saluting the women of the WPA as part of SWAN Day is a way to remind the public that there was an amazing artistic outpouring when our federal government made a serious investment in arts jobs in the 1930’s. Many artists are calling on President Obama to include artists in his economic stimulus plans too, and we have included links to articles about that in our Additional Resources section.
We will be gathering more materials for this section of our website in the coming months. If you have information about women artists of the WPA or other ideas that you would like to share with us, please email us at info@WomenArts.org. We always appreciate your input.
The WPA anniversary reminds us that at every moment of challenge, women artists have been ready to pitch in, creating beauty, meaning and connection where fear and hardship have frayed the fabric of community.
Please join us in celebrating these inspiring women this year!
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