[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8943 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8943
To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to
support arts education at minority-serving institutions of higher
education.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 8, 2024
Ms. Kamlager-Dove (for herself, Ms. Adams, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Velazquez,
and Ms. Bonamici) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to
support arts education at minority-serving institutions of higher
education.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Equitable Arts Education Enhancement
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) According to a 2021 study by Americans for the Arts,
the arts are an invaluable aspect of American society, as they
strengthen the economy, improve healthcare, spark creativity
and innovation, and unify communities, with 73 percent of
participants agreeing that the arts help them to better
understand other cultures.
(2) The American Alliance of Museums found that ``93
percent of museum directors are white, as are 92.6 percent of
board chairs and 89.3 percent of board members'', reflecting a
clear lack of diversity in the leadership of museums.
(3) Minority-serving institutions, or ``MSIs'', are
uniquely positioned to produce a diverse generation of art
professionals and help bring much needed attention to works by
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists. MSIs have
historically served as long-standing conservators and crucial
supporters of artist from diverse backgrounds. At a time when
diversity, equity, and inclusion are being targeted, the
teaching, supporting, and displaying of essential Minority
artists who may otherwise have remained unrecognized must be
prioritized.
(4) Arts programs and arts departments are expensive and
have often fallen victim to funding shortfalls. In 2018, the
College Art Association reported that at least 18 institutions
of higher education planned to severely curtail or eliminate
their arts departments.
(5) An increased investment in MSI arts, arts education,
and culture programs can further help Black, Indigenous,
students of color access an affordable arts education and
ensure the continued preparation, conservation, display, and
study of works by Minority artists.
SEC. 3. GRANTS TO MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Education (referred to in this
section as the ``Secretary'') shall carry out a program under which the
Secretary makes grants to minority-serving institutions, on a
competitive basis, to support arts education at such institutions.
(b) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, a minority-serving institution shall submit to the Secretary
an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
(c) Uses of Funds.--A minority-serving institution that receives a
grant under this section shall use such grant to support increased
racial minority access to arts education at the institution, which may
include--
(1) providing financial and other assistance to students in
arts, arts education, and cultural programs;
(2) establishing outreach programs and development offices
for arts, arts education, and cultural departments;
(3) providing comprehensive wraparound services for arts,
arts education, and cultural students, including faculty and
peer mentorship, work-based learning opportunities, guidance
counseling, and career advising;
(4) presenting and exhibiting art and performances produced
by minority-serving institutions, and maintaining, monitoring,
and protecting minority art collections in exhibition and in
storage;
(5) providing well-paid apprenticeship, internship, and
fellowship opportunities to students in arts, arts education,
and cultural programs through partnerships with nonprofit arts,
arts education, and cultural institutes;
(6) offering stipends to students in arts education
preparation programs to enable such students to participate in
clinical experiences;
(7) developing mentoring programs for future arts
educators;
(8) providing training and stipends for mentor teachers;
and
(9) paying for future arts educators and mentor teachers to
participate in professional learning opportunities offered by
nonprofit arts education organizations.
(d) Considerations.--In determining the appropriate uses of funds
under subsection (c), a minority-serving institution shall give special
consideration to uses of funds that directly benefit minority students.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) The term ``arts'' means art forms used for self-
expression and interpretation, including dance, music, theater,
literary, visual, graphic, media arts, plastic, and decorative
arts.
(2) The term ``minority'' means an individual from an
underrepresented racial minority.
(3) The term ``minority-serving institution'' means an
institution specified in section 371(a) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
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