PCAH was established by
Executive Order 12367 of June 15, 1982, under
President Ronald Reagan. PCAH plays a unique role in bringing together the White House, federal agencies, civic organizations, corporations, foundations and individuals to strengthen the United States' national investment in its cultural life. The committee has a strong track record of addressing pressing policy questions in the arts and humanities, initiating public/private partnerships in those disciplines, and recognizing excellence in the field. PCAH has also conducted major research and policy analysis, and catalyzed important federal cultural programs, both domestic and international. Central to the PCAH mission is using the power of the arts and humanities to contribute to the vibrancy of our society, the education of diverse publics, the creativity of our citizens and the strength of our democracy.
2017 Trump Administration Resignations On August 18, 2017, 16 of the 17 committee members, including
Kal Penn and
Chuck Close, resigned in protest of
President Donald Trump's response to the
Unite the Right rally in
Charlottesville, Virginia. The resigning commissioners stated in a letter to the president, "Reproach and censure in the strongest possible terms are necessary following your support of the hate groups and terrorists who killed and injured fellow Americans in Charlottesville." PCAH became the first White House affiliate to quit the Trump administration. The White House responded with a statement reading in part, "Earlier this month it was decided that President Trump will not renew the Executive Order for the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH), which expires later this year."
Andrew Weinstein, who had been appointed to the committee by President
Obama, went on to serve on the board of the
Holocaust Memorial Museum.
September 2022 Reinstitution Under a new Executive Order issued by President
Joe Biden on Sept. 30, 2022, the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities was officially reinstituted. The Executive Order outlines that PCAH will continue to provide recommendations to the White House, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services to advance wide-ranging policy objectives in the arts and humanities, helping to support advance the economic development, well-being, and resilience of all communities, especially those that have historically been underserved. The President noted that, "The arts, the humanities, and museum and library services are essential to the well-being, health, vitality, and democracy of our Nation. They are the soul of America, reflecting our multicultural and democratic experience. They further help us strive to be the more perfect Union to which generation after generation of Americans have aspired. They inspire us; provide livelihoods; sustain, anchor, and bring cohesion within diverse communities across our Nation; stimulate creativity and innovation; help us understand and communicate our values as a people; compel us to wrestle with our history and enable us to imagine our future; invigorate and strengthen our democracy; and point the way toward progress." On April 13, 2023, President Biden appointed 24 members of the committee, including Co-Chairs
Lady Gaga and
Bruce Cohen. In this new iteration, PCAH’s mission affirmed: the arts and humanities as essential pillars of a democratic society. Together with public and private partners, we create opportunities to support the arts and humanities’ ability to foster joy, resilience, and connection, which are vital to the human experience. Our work is grounded in the fundamental belief that creativity, diversity, and democracy are intrinsically bound, and that the arts and the humanities can be a powerful force for social change.” From July 2023-January 2025, the committee met 6 times. Official meetings were held at the White House, Camp David, and virtually. As early as September 2024, the committee initiated recommendations and research in seven priority areas in partnership with public and private partners. These priority areas reflected the nation’s most pressing issues in the arts and humanities fields and addressed the mandate put forth by President Biden. Additionally, the committee also focused on a creation of an “Archive of Joy” as a public awareness campaign to combat the “epidemic of loneliness” as referenced by former Surgeon General
Vivek Murthy. The initial seven priority areas of the reinstituted PCAH included:
Artists for Understanding: This initiative that brought together the NEA, NEH, and IMLS along with a diverse community of artists and cultural luminaries who share a common belief in the power of the arts and humanities to counter all forms of hate. The initiative was created to support artists doing work to encourage dialogue and cross-cultural exchange in their communities" Artists for Understanding was launched in five cities across the country including New York, Dearborn, Minneapolis, San Jose, and Houston.
Art & Community Infrastructure: This research-driven initiative supported PCAH recommendations by amplifying the ways art fosters economic growth, enhances public health, and cultivates civic engagement.
Artificial Intelligence: PCAH supported convenings that served as dynamic forums where thought leaders from across the humanities, technology industry, and creative sectors could share best practices for the thoughtful integration of the arts and humanities into the uses and development of AI. The first collaborative convening, “Creativity + Tech Summit” was held by the Kennedy Center in September of 2024.
Non-profit theater sector convening: PCAH committed to exploring the health and longevity of the performing arts through a series of convenings that would bring together innovative practitioners from the non-profit theater sector, arts and humanities leaders, and major funders. The inaugural convening was held in collaboration with IMLS and NEA in October 2024.
Libraries and Placemaking: PCAH collaborated with IMLS and the Library of Congress to support libraries and placemaking work. Pilot projects explored leveraging libraries' unique resources and infrastructure to cultivate responsive learning environments, support existing library networks, and nurture community interests.
Rapid Response & Recovery for Arts and Cultural Heritage: PCAH coordinated with the federal agencies to evaluate preparedness and relief strategies of cultural organizations before disaster strikes. Working alongside non-profit partners to create a pilot and coalition for at-risk sites across the country, this collaboration aimed to fortify the resilience of our nation’s cultural heritage and elevate the role of the arts and humanities in the process of recovery for communities impacted by disaster events.
Repatriation and Ethical Returns: PCAH collaborated with Native American Tribes, Native American serving museums and professional organizations, and federal agencies to encourage stronger collaboration on
NAGPRA policy. Proposed convenings sought to empower agencies and museums to adopt the highest standards and practices for repatriation, ethical returns, and shared stewardship, through increased government support and coordination. The inaugural convening was held in January 2025. In addition to these priority areas, the PCAH also produced special events for the White House, bringing together the NEA, NEH, and IMLS as sponsors and the Smithsonian Institution as a consulting body. This included two events celebrating
Juneteenth’s historic designation as a federal holiday. The first event was produced with the Domestic Policy Council titled "Juneteenth: Protecting and Honoring Our Nation's African American History." The second event was a concert on the South Lawn of the White House attended by President Biden, First Lady and Honorary PCAH Chair
Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President
Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman
Doug Emhoff along with 2,000 attendees. Both events were later streamed on
YouTube for the public. Two months before the committee's termination, the inaugural issue of Cambridge University's
Public Humanities published an interview with several members of the committee to discuss their work, their background, and their hopes for government support of the arts and the humanities. ==Programs==