These include considerations for 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.
[8] PCAH plays a unique role in bringing together the White House, federal agencies, civic organizations, corporations, foundations and individuals to strengthen the United States' national investment in its cultural life.
[9] On August 18, 2017, 16 of the 17 committee members, including Kal Penn and Chuck Close, resigned in protest of President Donald Trump's response to the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The resigning commissioners stated in a letter to the president, "Reproach and censure in the strongest possible terms are necessary following your support of the hate groups and terrorists who killed and injured fellow Americans in Charlottesville.
They inspire us; provide livelihoods; sustain, anchor, and bring cohesion within diverse communities across our Nation; stimulate creativity and innovation; help us understand and communicate our values as a people; compel us to wrestle with our history and enable us to imagine our future; invigorate and strengthen our democracy; and point the way toward progress.
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.”[17] From July 2023-January 2025, the committee met 6 times.
Additionally, the committee also focused on a creation of an “Archive of Joy” as a public awareness campaign to combat the “epidemic of loneliness” as referenced by former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.
This research-driven initiative supported PCAH recommendations by amplifying the ways art fosters economic growth, enhances public health, and cultivates civic engagement.
To advance this mission, the committee proposed a series of convenings that would bring together innovative thinkers from the non-profit theater sector, arts and humanities leaders, and major funders.
Working alongside non-profit partners to create a pilot and coalition for at-risk sites across the country, this collaboration aimed to fortify the resilience of our nation’s cultural heritage and elevate the role of the arts and humanities in the process of recovery for communities impacted by disaster events.
Proposed convenings sought to empower agencies and museums to adopt the highest standards and practices for repatriation, ethical returns, and shared stewardship, through increased government support and coordination.
[32] In addition to these priority areas, the PCAH also produced special events for the White House, bringing together the NEA, NEH, and IMLS as sponsors and the Smithsonian Institution as a consulting body.
By elevating and showcasing their work for a national audience, the program strives to inspire other young people to achieve excellence in their own creative endeavors and promote the essential role of writing and the arts in academic and personal success.
[39] Formerly titled Coming Up Taller, these annual awards focused national attention on outstanding programs across the country that promoted the creativity of America's young people, providing them learning opportunities and the chance to contribute to their communities.
Established by Executive Order in 1998, Save America's Treasures (SAT)[40] is a federal public-private partnership that includes the NEA, NEH, IMLS, the National Park Service (NPS), the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) and formerly PCAH.
Although funding for the program was suspended, the PCAH and AAF convened a series of thought leadership forums to develop elements for framing and catalyzing a preservation strategy that built on the strengths and success of SAT.