The Public Art Works Project (PWAP)

The first of the New Deal visual arts programs was the Public Art Works Project (PAWP), in 1933. The program sought to employ artists “by arranging to have competent representatives of the profession embellish public buildings” (3).  The Public Art Works Project accounted for the employment of 3,749 artists, and resulted in the production of 15,663 works (4).

The Federal Art Project (FAP)

The Federal Art Project succeeded PWAP and was enacted in 1935 as one of five divisions under the Federal Project Number One. The FAP was a subdivision of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). In contrast to the The Public Art Works Project, FAP was a relief measure to pull artists out of the financial downfall of the Great Depression (5). The Federal Art Project  brought about the creation of 100+ community art centers across America and funded a multitude of public art pieces for everyone to enjoy. Over 10,000 artists and craft workers were sustained by the FAP(5).

 The Section of Painting and Sculpture (later known as the Section of Fine Arts)

The Treasury Department’s Section of Painting and Sculpture (later known as the Section of Fine Arts) was another important government program, especially as it resulted in hundreds of murals completed for placement in America’s post offices (6). These post office murals “embody much of the sentiment underlying 1930’s public art. This includes a passion to “democratize” art by bringing it directly to the people; a desire to valorize the experience of all Americans by highlighting regional and local history; and, a drive to create a unified national identity through the celebration of common symbols and stories” (6).