The GSA has issued final rules changing policies on art content in federal building, ending the Trump administration’s emphasis on traditional historic themes and persons and to reflect a Biden administration directive to promote “equitable opportunities for access to programs and services.”
The new rules revoke ones the GSA issued in 2020 under a Trump administration executive order on “building and rebuilding monuments to American heroes.” That order put priority on those who “contributed positively to America’s history” and further said that statues or other works of art “must be a lifelike or realistic representation of that person, not an abstract or modernist representation.”
President Biden revoked that order last year and meanwhile issued one on “advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the federal government.” In its notice, the GSA said that directive encompasses its Art in Architecture program, in which panels of experts commission works from a registry of artists that the GSA maintains.
GSA said its new policy “will allow the removal of the currently restrictive requirement to prioritize the commissioning of monuments portraying historically significant Americans, significant events in American history or illustrating the ideals upon which the nation was founded with preference for a realistic style, while soliciting comments to increase civic engagement and enhance the diversity and equity of the Art in Architecture program.”
“GSA recognizes this program is perhaps not as well known among various communities of artists and, with the publication of this rule, will be partnering with other federal agencies to highlight the program across communities whose artists have not typically been represented in the Registry,” it said.
GSA also said it is “updating the definitions to be more inclusive of different visual arts styles and removing references to “fine arts,” which may be interpreted by some to exclude certain styles and mediums of art and, therefore, many artists from consideration for commission.”
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