Works Progress Administration

Definition

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a key New Deal agency established in 1935 to provide employment and income through public works projects during the Great Depression. It played a significant role in creating jobs for millions of Americans, while also fostering a cultural revival through artistic initiatives that contributed to the visual landscape of America.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The WPA employed around 8.5 million Americans from 1935 to 1943, making it one of the largest employment programs in U.S. history.
2. The WPA's Federal Art Project commissioned artists to create thousands of murals, sculptures, and paintings for public buildings, significantly influencing American public art.
3. The WPA not only focused on visual arts but also supported theater, music, and literature, helping to sustain the cultural fabric of America during economic hardship.
4. The legacy of the WPA continues to be felt today, as many of its projects are still standing and serve as a reminder of the importance of government support for the arts.
5. Artists associated with the WPA included renowned figures such as Grant Wood and Diego Rivera, who contributed to defining American art during this era.

Review Questions

• How did the Works Progress Administration influence the development of social realism in American art during its operation?
  • The WPA significantly influenced social realism by providing artists with funding and opportunities to portray the realities of American life. This period saw artists capturing the struggles and resilience of everyday people against the backdrop of the Great Depression. Through murals, paintings, and other forms of public art created under WPA projects, social realism emerged as a dominant narrative in American art that sought to reflect social issues and inspire change.
• Evaluate the impact of the Federal Art Project on public perceptions of art and culture in America during the New Deal era.
  • The Federal Art Project under the WPA transformed public perceptions by making art accessible to a broader audience through murals and sculptures displayed in public spaces. By commissioning local artists to create works that reflected community values and struggles, the project fostered a sense of pride and ownership among citizens. This accessibility helped shift the understanding of art from an elite pursuit to something integral to daily life and society, reinforcing its role as a vehicle for social commentary.
• Assess how the Works Progress Administration's efforts in arts funding can be seen as a reflection of Roosevelt's New Deal philosophy and its long-term effects on American culture.
  • The WPA's arts funding directly reflected Roosevelt's New Deal philosophy by emphasizing recovery through collective effort and government support. By investing in cultural projects alongside infrastructure development, it recognized the essential role of arts in fostering national morale and identity during tough times. Long-term effects include an enduring legacy of public art in America, a strengthened arts community, and a broader recognition of government responsibility in supporting cultural initiatives that continue to shape American identity today.

Related terms

Federal Art Project: A subdivision of the WPA that focused specifically on funding and supporting artists to create public art, murals, and other creative projects to provide employment and promote American culture.

Social Realism: An artistic movement that aimed to highlight social issues and the everyday lives of ordinary people, often depicting the struggles of the working class and addressing themes of injustice.

New Deal: A series of programs and policies implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt aimed at providing relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression, which included significant investments in public infrastructure and the arts.