The Arts Endowment is the nation's premier arts entity, and as such, provides crucial leadership and advocacy within the cultural life of the country. The agency's Chairman and Presidentially appointed advisory body, the National Council on the Arts, are recognized as national spokespersons for the arts, helping set national cultural policy. The Endowment's leadership role in such areas as education reform, city design, public art, and preserving the nation's cultural heritage has made a meaningful difference in America's artistic vitality.

The Arts Endowment has forged alliances with other federal agencies to explore funding opportunities and seek solutions in areas of common concern. The agency is working, for example, with the U.S.Department of Commerce in the promotion of cultural tourism, the Department of Justice on crime prevention initiatives and the U.S. Department of Transportation to promote design excellence within the nation's transportation systems. And with the support of the National Service Corporation, the Endowment has launched The Writers Corps, an anti-illiteracy project in San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and the Bronx, New York.

Website: http://arts.endow.gov