The Influence of Progressivism and the Works Progress Administration on Museum Education

The Federal Arts Project (WPA-FAP) (1935–1943) of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a federally funded program designed through Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal to keep visual artists at work during the Great Depression. Many of these arts programs took place through museums and exhibitions, bringing the visual arts to everyday Americans with public programs and outreach. The continued legacy of these community-driven, education-centered approaches is evident in today's museums through outreach initiatives, studio programs, and responsive community programs that seek to bring visual arts experiences to the public. This article will discuss key WPA-FAP museum programs and policies, and relate these objectives to current practice in museum education.