Press Releases

Flauta sin Fronteras Tours U.S.-Mexico Border with Support from the PCAH

Flauta sin Fronteras features Elena Durán, a flutist who has performed with many of the world’s major orchestras. Her passion is to use music as a bridge between cultures and this new tour will follow the arc of the U.S.– Mexican border from Matamoros to El Paso. The tour is one of several such artist cultural exchanges over the last several years supported through the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. Learn More

Mrs. Laura Bush Honors the 50th Anniversary of National Library Week

The Institute of Museum and Library Services wishes to share with our colleagues the following letter from Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States. View original.

Learn more about programs for libraries and museums at the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Save America’s Treasures Solicits Applications for 2008

The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and the National Park Service are seeking applicants for the Save America’s Treasures (SAT) 2008 grant program. Eligible applicants include nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c), U.S. organizations, units of state or local government, and federally recognized Indian Tribes. To be considered for a SAT competitive grant, the collection or historic property benefiting from the funding must be nationally significant and meet the selection criteria. In 2007, the SAT competitive program made fifteen awards to institutions with collections, artifacts, artistic works or documents and another sixteen awards were made to organizations caring for structures and sites for a total of $7.6 million. Learn More...

Lincoln Cottage Restored with Help From Save America’s Treasures

One of the most significant, but little remembered places in the presidency of Abraham Lincoln has been restored with an award from Save America's Treasures and through the efforts of its private partner the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more than 140 years the Lincoln Cottage, which served as a summer retreat for President Lincoln during his presidency, has been off-limits to visitors and almost forgotten, except by scholars. Today, what was once a rural residence known to Lincoln as the Solidiers Home—currently the Armed Forces Retirement Home—is tucked away in an urban neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C. .The Lincoln Cottage now joins the rest of capital’s well known landmarks. Learn More...

PCAH Extends Relationship with Chinese Minister of Culture

The dialogue and relationships begun last June by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) and Chairman Adair Margo with Chinese cultural officials sparked a recent visit to the United States by Sun Jiazheng, China's minister of culture at the invitation of Chairman Margo. He participated in PCAH's Coming Up Taller ceremony at the White House on January 28th, which made its first award to a Chinese youth arts and humanities group from Shanghai, the Little Companion Art Troupe at the China Welfare Institute's Children's Palace. Following the ceremony, Chairman Margo and Dr. James Billington, Librarian of Congress, served as co-hosts for a luncheon at the Library of Congress in honor of Minister Sun. Learn More...

Mrs. Laura Bush Presents 2007 Coming Up Awards at White House Ceremony

The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities Honorary Chairman Mrs. Laura Bush presented eighteen 2007 Coming Up Taller Awards during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on January 28. The Coming Up Taller Awards recognize and support outstanding community arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America’s young people, and provide them with new learning opportunities and a chance to contribute to their communities. Learn More...

AFI Project 20/20 Completes a Successful Visit to China

The AFI Project: 20/20 cultural exchange program closed out it first year with a three-city visit to China in late November. More than 4,000 people attended screenings in Beijing alone with another 900 participating in Hong Kong and several hundred in Shantou. The U.S. Consulates served as hosts for the visits and the participating filmmakers took part in activities from question and answer sessions with students, aspiring filmmakers, academics and the public to workshops with trade union groups and high schools. Learn More...

Save America's Treasures Awards $7.6 Million in Preservation Grants

More than 100 years ago, Grand Banks schooners were a common sight in New England ports. Today, the Schooner Ernestina, which also played a role in the exploration of the Arctic, is one of the last of these graceful fishing vessels. She is one example of the thirty-one exceptional artifacts and structures that will be restored and conserved with awards totaling $7.6 million from Save America's Treasures (SAT). Learn More...

President’s Committee Chairman Adair Margo Receives Aztec Eagle Award

President’s Committee Chairman Adair Margo received the highest decoration awarded by Mexico to people who are not citizens of Mexico at a ceremony held at the Cultural Institute of Mexico in Washington DC in mid November. The Order of the Aztec Eagle was bestowed upon Margo and three other arts and cultural leaders recognized for their contributions to strengthening the relationship between Mexico and the United States. The honor was resented to the recipients by Mexico’s Ambassador to the United States, Arturo Sarukhan. First Lady Laura Bush, Margo’s longtime friend, was in attendance at the ceremony. Learn More...

The President’s Committee Congratulates the 2007 National Medalist Recipients

In a ceremony held at the White House in early November, twenty National Medals for the Arts and the Humanities were presented by President and Mrs. George Bush to legendary artists, renowned scholars and institutions. The awards honor extraordinary contributions to the arts and humanities and are the highest recognition the U. S. bestows on its artists and scholars. Learn More...

First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush Honored for Her Preservation Leadership

The National Trust for Historic Preservation and Home & Garden TV (HGTV) honored First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush and four other individuals and organizations with the prestigious Restore America hero award. The award honors public officials, private citizens and corporations whose energy, vision and leadership have had a significant impact on the preservation of our historic and cultural legacy—the buildings, collections, documents and works of art that tell America’s story. Mrs. Bush was recognized for her long-standing leadership in preservation. Learn More...

Adair Margo Remembers PCAH Vice-Chairman Ray Nasher

Members of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities are deeply saddened by the death of our Vice-Chairman, colleague and friend, Raymond Nasher. Ray was appointed to the President's Committee by President George H. W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, and President George W. Bush; his influence and leadership on national and international cultural affairs transcended politics. Learn More...

Save America's Treasures Awarded the Prestigious Keystone Award

The American Architectural Foundation (AAF) presented its 2007 Keystone Award at the 18th annual Accent on Architecture Gala to Save America's Treasures (SAT) and its public-private partnership's role in protecting and preserving the architectural, artistic and cultural legacy of the United States. The award recognizes outstanding leadership in the field of architecture and design by organizations or individuals outside of the architectural profession that enriches and transforms communities. Learn More...

New Members Appointed by President Bush to the President’s
Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

President George W. Bush recently appointed four private members to the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. The President’s Committee is comprised of private citizens from around the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as the heads of government cultural agencies including the National Endowment on the Arts, the National Endowment on the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Learn More...

Save America’s Treasures Report Published by PCAH

The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities announces the publication of Save America’s Treasures Preserving the Legacy of our National Experience. The 80-page report demonstrates how successful and critical this program’s relatively small investment has been in rescuing, restoring and conserving our nation’s cultural and historic treasures. Learn More...