Americans for the Arts’ President and CEO Nolen V. Bivens issued this statement following Saturday’s U.S. Senate confirmation of President Joseph R. Biden’s nomination of Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson as the next chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA):

“Today’s speedy Senate confirmation of President Biden’s nomination of Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson is great news not only for the NEA, but also for the arts in our country, and marks a moment of great opportunity for our nation. President Biden nominated a very accomplished leader with extensive experience in education, policy, arts administration, and business, with a deep history with the NEA. The Senate confirmation comes at a critical time when our nation’s arts workers are recovering from the pandemic that devastated the arts and culture sector.

“Dr. Jackson understands that the arts and culture are a transformative, powerful force in our lives, communities, and schools, and must be supported. I congratulate her not only for taking on this important public service role, but also for becoming the nation’s first African American and Mexican American to serve as chair of the NEA.

“I have confidence that Dr. Jackson will bring innovative and effective focus to broadening accessibility to the arts, and especially to arts and cultural organizations and audiences of color. This will also be an opportunity for her to spotlight how the arts have proven to be powerful educational, social, and economic drivers in their communities, especially as safe gathering places for healing and reuniting as we begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Through strong leadership and steadfast dedication, Dr. Jackson will undoubtedly make her mark shaping the critical role of the agency in the years to come.

“As I mentioned in my letter of support to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Dr. Jackson brings an insightful combination of expertise to the position—experience in strategic planning, policy research and evaluation with philanthropy, government, and nonprofit organizations. For more than 25 years, her work has focused on understanding and elevating arts, culture, and design as critical elements of healthy communities. Her steady participation in field dialogues, including advising on the creation of Americans for the Arts’ National Arts Index and New Community Visions Initiative, participation in the national Get Creative Workers Working Coalition, and membership on the boards of various foundations and arts organizations have progressed the field forward immeasurably.

“For nearly 60 years, Americans for the Arts has worked alongside the NEA as it has expanded access to the arts for all Americans, awarding grants in every Congressional district throughout all 50 states and U.S. territories, as well as placing arts therapists in military hospitals to help returning military heroes heal from physical and traumatic brain injuries.

“Dr. Jackson will begin her service with a robust agenda, an upward trajectory of funding, broad Congressional approval, and a White House committed to attracting national attention to the value of the arts and integrating them into broader domestic policies. I am certain she will lead the NEA to support its innovative and critical work, and on behalf of Americans for the Arts, we look forward to working closely with her.”

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 60 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

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