A few days ago The Writers’ Almanac highlighted the anniversary of the funding approval for the American  Federal Art Project .  The Works Progress Administration was part of F.D. Roosevelt’s New Deal initiatives to get unemployed Americans back to work during the Depression.

Just imagine–a government program to support artists in their work.  It’s reported that Roosevelt said that artists “….got to eat like other people.”

Indeed.

Romare Bearden, Mark Rothko and Jo Mora are a few of the thousands of artists who benefited from the seven year program.