FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

NEA - 21541 - Arts Advisory Panel - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Arts Advisory Panel	Agency Name	National Endowment for the Arts
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	21541
Original Establishment Date	9/29/1965	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	Unlimited
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Director, Guidelines and Panel Operations
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	8/17/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Daniel
Date Of Renewal Charter	8/17/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Beattie
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 682-5688
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	20 U.S.C. 959 et. seq.	Designated Federal Officer Email*	beattied@arts.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	9/29/1965
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Grant Review Committee

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	No
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Committee's objectives and scope of activities include the formulation of expert advice and recommendations to the National Endowment for the Arts' Chair, agency staff, and members of the National Council on the Arts with respect to: a) applications submitted to the National Endowment for the Arts for Federal financial assistance under the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965, as amended and b) policies, programs, research, and guidelines of the National Endowment for the Arts. This Committee is responsible for reviewing and evaluating applications for financial assistance to the National Endowment for the Arts on the basis of artistic excellence and artistic merit. The Committee then makes recommendations to the National Council on the Arts with respect to the relative merit of these applications. In FY24, this committee reviewed approximately 7,202 applications requesting approximately $386,103,514 resulting in more than 2,372 recommendations for funding.
How is membership balanced?*	The Committee includes persons who have a depth of knowledge about one or more artistic disciplines, professional artists in a wide range of disciplines, arts presenting professionals, folklorists, arts administrators, educators, critics, scholars, foundation executives, state, local, or regional arts agency representatives, informed lay persons, and others who bring a wide range of experience and a diversity of professional viewpoints to the work of the panel. The panel also includes a broad geographic, ethnic, and cultural representation as well as a reasonable balance of men and women.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	Meeting dates are determined by the deadlines for applications in each area, the number of applications or nominations to be considered, and the dates on which grants and guidelines needed to be considered by the National Council on the Arts. The committee, which is responsible for review of applications for funding, held 151 meetings in FY24.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	This Committee is responsible for the peer review of applications for funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, as required in the agency's legislation. The cost of employing Federal staff with the same broad range of professional expertise would be prohibitive. Also, qualitative judgments in the diverse areas of aesthetics, artistic expression, and creativity are best provided by professionals who work or have expertise in the various artistic disciplines. There is no other established body which could meet the special advisory needs of this unique and continually evolving program.
Why close or partially close meetings?	Meetings are closed for review of applications for financial assistance pursuant to subsection (c)(6) of Title 5, U.S.C. 552b.
Recommendation Remarks	Advisory panels review, score, and comment on applications but do not recommend specific dollar amounts. In FY24, 100% of panels met virtually resulting in significant cost savings. An online review process allows the agency to maintain the rigor and quality of the overall panel system.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	Yes	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	Yes
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	Yes
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	Changes in application guidelines may be made based on comments from the panelists. Additionally, the National Endowment for the Arts uses an online review process, about which panelists may comment. Feedback has been used to assist in making improvements to the review system.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	Yes
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	7,202
Outcome Comment	In FY24, the mission of the National Endowment for the Arts was to strengthen the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation. The agency carried out this mission primarily by awarding grants that addressed its major goals of supporting public engagement with, and access to, various forms of excellent art across the nation; the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence; learning in the arts at all stages of life; and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life. This awards process generally involves the use of peer review panels as specified in the National Endowment for the Arts' legislation. By ensuring that these panels include highly qualified representatives of the various disciplines as well as varied expertise and geographic, ethnic, and gender balance, the agency not only provides the best possible basis for its grantmaking decisions, but also attempts to assure both its applicants and the public that these decisions are made with care and understanding by individuals who are well respected in their fields. The work of this committee is the primary way in which the agency addresses this issue.	Number Of Grants Recommended	2,372
Cost Savings*	None	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$158,772,021.00
Cost Savings Comment	The National Endowment for the Arts is required by law to constitute peer review panels to make recommendations on applications for funding. These panels' primary responsibility is to provide guidance to staff and the National Council on the Arts for awarding grants. The agency has a specific amount of money available for these grants, and cost savings is not a factor in the panels' work. However, by using an online review system and meeting virtually, the agency is significantly reducing the costs of these meetings.	Grants Review Comment	In FY24, requests for funding totaled approximately $386,103,514. Requests for funding, even of those applications recommended by advisory panels, far exceed the agency's available resources, and panelists are aware that final grant amounts will often represent only 25% to 50% of the amounts requested. However, panelists do not recommend specific grant amounts.
Number Of Recommendations*	7,202	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	No
Number Of Recommendations Comment	This number represents only the recommendations for FY24. In 151 meetings in FY24, the Arts Advisory panel members reviewed about 7202 applications, some 2,372 of which were recommended for support, and the remaining 4,830 were recommended for rejection.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	95.00%	Access Committee Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Advisory panels' advice will generally be followed by the agency in approximately 95% of all cases. Changes in panels' recommendations are generally due lack of sufficient funds to support all recommendations.	Access GSA FACA Website	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Advisory panels do not make recommendations regarding specific grant amounts. Therefore there is no option for partial implementation of recommendations.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	Once recommendations have been reviewed by the National Council on the Arts and final decisions approved by the National Endowment for the Arts' Chair, panelists are either provided with lists of grants awarded, including the amounts recommended, or may access the information through the agency's website.	Narrative Description*	In FY24, the mission of the National Endowment for the Arts was to strengthen the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation. The agency carried out this mission primarily by awarding grants that addressed its major goals of supporting public engagement with, and access to, various forms of excellent art across the nation; the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence; learning in the arts at all stages of life; and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life. The agency also is committed to serving the American people through the fair and responsible awarding of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Through its recommendations for funding and discussion of policy issues affecting the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Advisory Panel directly supports the mission and strategic plan of the agency.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/19/2025 10:26 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Arts Arts and Humanities Education Education

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