The stock market crash of 1929 ushered in a decade of financial turmoil and social uncertainty. In his 1932 inaugural address, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to restore hope and resolve, and his administration soon launched a host of recovery programs that put millions of Americans back to work. Among these was the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which employed roughly 8.5 million people.

Within the WPA, the Federal Art Project (FAP) offered a crucial source of income and creative purpose for thousands of artists at a time when galleries were shuttered and patrons scarce. At its peak, the program employed over 5,300 artists, who produced everything from prints and paintings to large-scale public murals—many of which still adorn civic buildings today. The project also fostered collaboration across disciplines, commissioning illustrations and posters for writers, musicians, and theaters under the broader WPA arts initiatives.

Through its Exhibition Division, the FAP brought art directly to the public, while another branch sent artists into community centers and settlement houses to teach an estimated 50,000 children and adults. Art historian Nancy Elizabeth Green explores the enduring legacy of the Federal Art Project and the remarkable works it produced between 1935 and 1943, illuminating how art and government together helped to lift the spirits of a nation during one of its darkest times.

General Information

• View Common FAQs and Policies about our Online Programs on Zoom.