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Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§958 Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities

Title 20 › CHAPTER 26 — SUPPORT AND SCHOLARSHIP IN HUMANITIES AND ARTS; MUSEUM SERVICES › SUBCHAPTER I — NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES › § 958

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates a Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities inside the Foundation. The council includes the heads of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities; the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services; the Secretaries of Education and the Smithsonian Institution; the Director of the National Science Foundation; the Librarian of Congress; the Director of the National Gallery of Art; the Chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts; the Archivist of the United States; the Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service (GSA); the Assistant Secretary for Aging; and one member each chosen by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Interior, the Chairman of the Senate Commission on Art and Antiquities, and the Speaker of the House. The President will pick the council’s chair and can change who is on the council when needed. The council must advise and consult with NEA and NEH leaders and with the National Museum Services Board and the IMLS director on big problems. It must help coordinate policies and joint support among NEA, NEH, and IMLS and promote links with other federal programs. It will plan participation in major national events, study and report on the state and economic needs of the arts and humanities, and encourage ongoing discussion among federal agencies.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §958

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Establishment
There is established within the Foundation a Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.
(b)Composition; presiding officer; changes in membership to meet changes in programs or executive branch organization
The Council shall be composed of the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Librarian of Congress, the Director of the National Gallery of Art, the Chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts, the Archivist of the United States, the Commissioner, Public Buildings Service, General Services Administration, the Assistant Secretary for Aging, a member designated by the Secretary of State, and a member designated by the Secretary of the Interior, a member designated by the Chairman of the Senate Commission on Art and Antiquities, and a member designated by the Speaker of the House. The President shall designate the presiding officer of the Council from among the members. The President is authorized to change the membership of the Council from time to time as the President deems necessary to meet changes in Federal programs or executive branch organization.
(c)Functions
The Council shall—
(1)advise and consult with the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities on major problems arising in carrying out the purposes of the Foundation;
(2)advise and consult with the National Museum Services Board and with the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services on major problems arising in carrying out the purposes of such Institute;
(3)coordinate, by advice and consultation, so far as is practicable, the policies and operations of the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, including joint support of activities, as appropriate;
(4)promote coordination between the programs and activities of the Foundation and related programs and activities of other Federal agencies;
(5)plan and coordinate appropriate participation (including productions and projects) in major and historic national events;
(6)undertake studies and make reports which address the state of the arts and humanities, particularly with respect to their economic needs and problems; and
(7)encourage an ongoing dialogue in support of the arts and the humanities among Federal agencies.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2010—Subsecs. (b), (c)(2), (3). Pub. L. 111–340 substituted “Institute of Museum and Library Services” for “Institute of Museum Services”. 1993—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–171 substituted “Assistant Secretary for Aging” for “Commissioner on Aging”. 1990—Subsec. (c)(7). Pub. L. 101–512, § 318 [title I, § 108(a)], added par. (7). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–512, § 318 [title I, § 108(b)], struck out subsec. (d) which related to studies on Federal support to museums and the impact of Institute of Museum Services and of conservation and preservation practices. 1985—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–194, § 109(1), substituted “Chairperson” for “Chairman” in two places in first sentence, “presiding officer” for “Chairman” in second sentence, and “the President” for “he” in last sentence. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 99–194, § 109(2), substituted “Chairperson” for “Chairman” wherever appearing. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–194, § 109(3), added subsec. (d). Former subsec. (d), relating to a study and report to the President and the Congress on artistic employment opportunities, was struck out. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99–194, § 109(3), struck out subsec. (e) which provided for a study and report to the President and the Congress on arts and artifacts indemnification. 1984—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–306, § 6(a), inserted “the Director of the Institute of Museum Services,”. Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 98–306, § 6(b), struck out “and the Institute of Museum Services” after “Foundation”. 1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–496, §§ 106(a), 109(d), inserted “the Commissioner on Aging,” and substituted “Secretary of Education” for “United States Commissioner of Education”. Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 96–496, § 106(b), added par. (6). Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 96–496, § 106(c), added subsecs. (d) and (e). 1976—Subsec. (c)(2), (3). Pub. L. 94–462, § 208(1), (2), added par. (2), redesignated former par. (2) as (3), and as so redesignated inserted “and the Institute of Museum Services,” after “Humanities,”. Former par. (3) redesignated (4). Subsec. (c)(4), (5). Pub. L. 94–462, § 208(1), (3), redesignated former par. (3) as (4), inserted “and the Institute of Museum Services” after “Foundation”, and redesignated former par. (4) as (5). 1973—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–133 included the Commissioner, Public Buildings Service, General Service Administration, a member designated by the Secretary of the Interior, a member designated by the Chairman of the Senate Commission on Art and Antiquities, and a member designated by the Speaker of the House, as members of the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities. 1970—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 91–346 included the Archivist of the United States as a member of the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1990 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–512 effective Oct. 1, 1990, see section 318 [title IV, § 403(a)] of Pub. L. 101–512, set out as a note under section 951 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1973 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 93–133 effective on and after July 1, 1973, see section 2(b) of Pub. L. 93–133, set out a a note under section 951 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 958

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110