211th National Council on the Arts Meeting Public Session

The National Council on the Arts advises the Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, who also chairs the Council, on agency policies and programs. It reviews and makes recommendations to the Chair on applications for grants, funding guidelines, and leadership initiatives.

The major areas in which the Council advises the agency and its Chair are:

Applications for Federal grant funds recommended by advisory panels: Guidelines outlining funding categories, objectives, and eligibility; Leadership initiatives and partnership agreements with other agencies; Agency budget levels, allocations, and funding priorities; Policy directions involving Congressional legislation and other issues of importance to the arts nationally.

The Council also recommends individuals and organizations to receive the National Medal of Arts, a Presidential award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the arts in America.

Currently, Council meetings are convened three times per year, usually in March, June, and October. Meetings are open to the public.