About Us

The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) was established by White House Executive Order as an advisory body to the President on cultural policy. The committee is comprised of leading artists, scholars, museum and library practitioners, and philanthropists. The PCAH provides recommendations to the President and the heads of the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Institute of Museum and Library Services to advance wide-ranging policy objectives in the arts and humanities. As part of its mandate, the PCAH will consider how the arts and humanities sectors can positively impact community well-being, economic development, public health, education, civic engagement, and climate change across the United States.  

PCAH is provided with funding and administrative support by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. The Institute advances, supports, and empowers America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. For more information about IMLS, please visit imls.gov. As the supporting federal agency, certain IMLS policies will also apply to PCAH such as the agency’s Privacy Program (link), Freedom of Information Act guidance (link), Open Government Plan (link), and No FEAR Act Notice (link). 

Policies specific to pcah.gov may be found here

PCAH Mission

The President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities (PCAH) affirms the arts and humanities as essential pillars of a democratic society. Together with public and private partners, we create opportunities to support the arts and humanities’ ability to foster joy, resilience, and connection, which are vital to the human experience. Our work is grounded in the fundamental belief that creativity, diversity, and democracy are intrinsically bound, and that the arts and the humanities can be a powerful force for social change.