Arts in America

The fine art in the United States developed under conditions very different from those in many other nations. The United States was formed from a group of colonies; its founders came from various places with different customs and traditions. These, suitable for the needs of society in their countries of origin, had to adapt to life in a strange and adverse environment. A distinctively American culture, founded on these traditions modified from distant regions, although different from them, grew and developed only after the United States became an independent nation.

The evolution of the arts

While Adams's ideal of artistic evolution could only be roughly realized, a robust tradition of creativity in art and music has in fact developed in the United States. Its growth over the years has been characterized by the struggle between two great forces of inspiration: local creativity, sometimes primitive, and European refinement. In general, the best artists have been those who have known how to combine both forces to create their own original forms.

However, just as there is no single distinctive ethnic or cultural group, neither is there a distinctively American style in the arts. Rather, there is a mixture of many styles that reflect the reality of society. Even some generalizations that try to define what is American in art have been revealing. Conventionally, art has been produced and enjoyed with minimal direct government support or control. Indeed, one of the qualities that has distinguished the culture has been its inability to expect financial support from the government. To survive and grow, museums, art galleries, symphony orchestras, chamber music societies, and theaters have had to rely on private benefactors, university donations, and ticket sales as their primary means of obtaining resources. Without the security of government subsidies, which art in other countries customarily enjoys, the arts in the United States have always been tied to commerce.

However, it is this same union that has contributed to awakening ingenuity and cultural experimentation. Perhaps these traits can best be seen in the development and creativity of the film industry and the worldwide influence of popular music. They are also reflected in the rise of regional theaters and ballet companies, galleries showcasing the work of local artists, and the steady growth of lesser-known symphony orchestras across the country. Culture in the United States seems to have flourished precisely because of its independence from government control and subsidies.

The arts in America have grown rapidly, especially over the past 30 years. One important trend has been the growth of universities in their role as centers for artistic creation and performance. In order to meet the growing demand for student training, they have included composers, musicians, painters, and other artists on their staff. In addition, universities have expanded cultural activities outside their usual centers, such as New York and Chicago, to other cities and regions across the country.

Increased training in the arts has increased the number of serious amateur artists. Around 53 million citizens play some musical instrument. Another 50 million paint or draw in their spare time. And the numbers of writers, poets, photographers and amateur dancers are similar.

Another significant development, in contrast to past practice, has been a cautious but increasing involvement of the federal and state governments in supporting the arts, particularly in providing grants to cultural institutions. Spending by the National Endowment for the Arts, a government agency created in 1965, in 1993 exceeded $159 million. Added to this are the contributions of state government agencies for the arts. However, all this government subsidy is still small when compared to private contributions to the arts. But it should also be remembered that a percentage of such contributions are tax deductible for individuals. In this way, the government provides great support to the arts without compromising their traditional independence from government control and direct support from private sources.

Public subsidy for the arts has never been higher. A recent public opinion poll found that over 90% of citizens believe that the arts "make the community a better place," improve the quality of life, and are an important resource for citizens. "business and the economy" of their communities. These numbers show that the arts are not elite, but rather solidly in the spirit of life in America.

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• United States Department of State: Article originally extracted from the United States Department of State that produces and maintains this site. (Prepared by USIS Bogotá, Colombia).