Roosevelt's Contributions to the Arts

During the Great Depression, it was Franklin Delano's Roosevelt's intention to not only create temporary relief, but to also establish a legacy that future generations could benefit from. When the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act was passed in 1935, multiple job-creating government agencies were formed, the most notable of which as the Works Progress Administration, or WPA. Under the leadership of the canny Harry Hopkins, and influenced by the progressive Eleanor Roosevelt, the WPA created subdivisions within itself that focused on offering jobs in the arts. These subdivisions, collectively known as the Federal One, were titled the Federal Art Project, Federal Writers Project, Federal Theater Project, and the Federal Music Project.

Jackson Pollock's "Autumn Rhythm"

The Federal Art Project employed around 10,000 painters, sculptors, and muralists, and oversaw the creation of around 100,000 paintings and murals and 18,000 sculptures. Holger Cahill, the project's director, generally opted for more figurative pieces than abstract. Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Lee Krasner were just some of the talented abstract artists who developed a unique blend of abstract and figurative in their paintings. Murals underwent a similar stylistic transition, with most choosing to depict everyday American life in an honest, often critical approach. Overall, the Federal Art Project oversaw the rise of many talented muralists and painters, while helping to transition the style of contemporary art.

Writing and journalism flourished under the Federal Writers Project in a similar manner to contemporary art. One of the masterpieces of the 1900s, "American Guide Series", was one of the products of this project. Many of the 6,000 writers employed by the FWP helped write this guide, in which each of the (then) 48 states' history and culture was documented. In addition, many employed writers would also use federal funds to interview former slaves and record their memories. These would be turned into powerful narratives, and were eventually compiled into the piece, "Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves". Today, this collection makes up an important part of the Library of Congress.

The Federal Music Project and Federal Theater Project hold a similar importance in American culture. Around 15,000 musicians were employed by the Federal Music Project, which oversaw the production of 225,000 performances. The style of music at these performances varied greatly, including classical, folk, and most notably, African American and Latino music. The Federal Music Project oversaw the rise of new music styles while promoting music appreciation through easily accessible concerts. The Federal Theater Project, meanwhile, was also doing its part to promote public appreciation of the arts. Their performances, which were played in front of audiences totaling thirty million, controversially included many black actors. In both of these subdivisions, the underlying theme of cultural development combined with social reparations was continued.

Each of these subdivisions of the WPA, despite primarily being intended for employment purposes, helped develop American culture and increase public interest in the arts. The Federal Art Project oversaw a vital transitional period of art culture, while the illuminating pieces done by the employees of the Federal Writers Project are still relevant today. The Federal Music Project and Theater Project both also shifted American culture with their attempted racial bridges. Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Federal One was a major political reform, but its enduring effect was on social and cultural reform.


http://www.theartstory.org/org-wpa.htm
https://www.loc.gov/collections/slave-narratives-from-the-federal-writers-project-1936-to-1938/about-this-collection/
https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.scdb.200033720/default.html

 Kennedy, David M. Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945. New York: Oxford UP, 1999. Print. 

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/hb/hb_57.92.jpg

http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/newdeal/images/american_guide_series_LC-USZC2-5780.jpg