Artistic Triangle Threesome

Established in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government by the United States Congress, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants funds that “support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities.” To date it has provided over $4 billion, funding over 130,000 grants. A little over a year ago, the NEA came under the scrutiny of the design industry when it launched a $25,000-contest, accompanied by a hefty 28-page RFP that asked for speculative work, to “represent the phrase ‘art works’ in a single image.” The mantra of NEA Chairman, Rocco Landesman, “Art Works” has three meanings: “the works of art themselves, the ways art works on audiences, and art as work.” Th