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National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia announces his future plans
National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia announced today that he will leave his position at the head of the Arts Endowment in January 2009. He will return to writing, his primary occupation prior to leading the Arts Endowment. He will also join the Aspen Institute on a half-time basis as the first Director of the Harman/Eisner (H/E) Program in the Arts.
Dana Gioia began his term in February 2003, becoming the NEA's ninth chairman. In December 2006 he was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate for a second, four-year term. Chairman Gioia has led a transformation of the NEA, reinvigorating the institution with a mission of bringing the best of arts and arts education to all Americans. He has also helped restore the NEA's leadership in fostering informed public discussion of important issues affecting the arts, artists, and education.
Under Gioia's chairmanship, the NEA has effectively democratized its programs and services, maintaining the highest artistic and educational standards while achieving unprecedented outreach to millions of Americans. Gioia has also made arts education central to the agency's mission, creating many programs that combine the presentation of arts with arts education to foster the next generation of artists, audiences and patrons.
"It has been a thrilling experience to help rebuild a great American institution," said Gioia. "We have created a new national consensus on the importance of public support for the arts and arts education. Six years ago that would have seemed unlikely."
"I announce my departure with mixed feelings," he added. "I will never have a more interesting job. But I am a writer. If I don't return to poetry soon, the Muse will never have me back."
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