New Deal Artwork in Non-Federal Repositories

In 1994, the Department of the Interior (DOI) Museum Property Program initiated a National Survey of Federally Associated Collections Housed in Non-Federal Institutions. As part of this survey, the Fine Arts Program of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) started an inventory of artwork from the New Deal in non-federal repositories. The first results were printed in 1996 and updated again in 1999.  GSA continues cataloging the artwork and to date over 18,000 artworks have been located.  The inventory serves as a valuable source of information for federal and State agencies with New Deal artwork, the museum community, scholars, students, and the general public.

During the Depression era, the New Deal art projects of Franklin Roosevelt’s Administration (1933 - 1943) offered work relief to artists by commissioning paintings and sculpture for the embellishment of newly constructed federal buildings, post offices, and courthouses. In addition, the New Deal artists also created thousands of portable works of art that were loaned or allocated (indicating a restricted transfer of title) to museums and other public agencies. The Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 transferred all functions of the Federal Works Agency, including responsibility for New Deal artwork, to GSA.

GSA does not intend to retrieve or reclaim New Deal artwork housed in non-federal repositories. Rather, we hope to continue to work with the museum community to develop cooperative agreements for the future care of and responsibility for these important works of art.

NONGOVERNMENT LINKS

• Erie Federal Building Kiosk