This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow HBCUs to use grant funding to support arts and cultural programs, provide financial aid and support to art students, establish art outreach programs, exhibit and protect Black art collections, and offer paid arts apprenticeships.
Alma Adams
Representative
NC-12
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow HBCU grants to be used for strengthening arts and cultural programs, including financial aid, outreach, support services, art collection preservation, and paid apprenticeships. It allows HBCUs to partner with the National Endowment for the Arts to carry out these activities. The bill aims to address underfunding in HBCU arts programs and promote diversity in the arts.
Bill Expands Grant Options for HBCU Arts Programs, Aiming to Boost Student Aid, Exhibitions, and Career Paths
This proposed legislation updates the Higher Education Act of 1965, specifically targeting grants designed to strengthen Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It doesn't create new money, but it significantly broadens how existing HBCU grant funds (under Section 323) can be used, adding five new categories specifically focused on supporting arts and cultural programs. The goal, as stated in the bill, is to tackle historical underfunding—citing a $12.6 billion gap over 30 years compared to predominantly White institutions—and boost diversity within the arts sector where Black artists and professionals are often underrepresented.
Painting a Bigger Picture for HBCU Arts
So, what can HBCUs actually do with these funds if this passes? The bill adds several concrete options:
- Direct Student Support: Offer financial aid specifically for students enrolled in arts and cultural programs (New Paragraph 14).
- Building Bridges: Establish outreach programs to attract students to arts departments and connect with the community (New Paragraph 15).
- Comprehensive Back-Up: Provide robust support services for arts students, think mentorship programs and solid career advice tailored to the arts world (New Paragraph 16).
- Showcasing Heritage: Fund the exhibition, preservation, and study of Black art collections held by the institution (New Paragraph 17).
- Real-World Experience: Set up paid apprenticeships for arts students by partnering with museums, galleries, theaters, and other arts organizations (New Paragraph 18).
The bill also explicitly allows HBCUs to team up with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to make these initiatives happen (New Subsection d). It defines 'arts' broadly, covering everything from painting and sculpture to performance, writing, and graphic design.
Why This Matters: Addressing Gaps and Opening Doors
This isn't just about adding line items to a budget; it's about addressing documented needs. The bill acknowledges that HBCU arts programs can be expensive and vulnerable to budget cuts, despite their unique role in nurturing Black artists and scholars. By allowing grant funds to flow directly into student aid, program support, and crucial hands-on experience like paid apprenticeships, the legislation aims to make arts careers more accessible and sustainable for students at these institutions. It directly connects funding flexibility to the goals of preserving Black cultural heritage and diversifying a field where, according to studies cited in the bill, Black professionals are significantly underrepresented. Essentially, it gives HBCUs more tools within their existing federal grant structure to invest strategically in their arts programs and the students who bring them to life.