Free with Museum admission, 2:00pm
Saturday, November 30
Join us for a special screening of The New Deal for Artists, a compelling documentary exploring one of the most ambitious government arts programs in American history. Narrated by Orson Welles, this 1981 film delves into Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, a program that aimed to restore American livelihoods during the Great Depression and included an extraordinary initiative to support the arts. With the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.), artists from all backgrounds were employed to create, inspiring a generation of painters, writers, and performers.
As a deeply human look at how art can reshape society, The New Deal for Artists features firsthand accounts from notable figures such as Studs Terkel, John Houseman, and James Brooks. But as the film reveals, the W.P.A. faced opposition. Rising political tensions, led by the House Un-American Activities Committee, targeted artists and threatened to dismantle the program.
Now digitally remastered, this documentary brings a historical era back to life, showing the power of art in rebuilding communities and supporting social change. Don’t miss this chance to view a fascinating chapter of American history on the big screen!
