President Biden reversed an executive decision made by Donald Trump in February of 2020.
The “Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again” order, which had a significant impact on federal architecture, dictated what types of art could be commissioned for federal buildings.
Echoing the sentiments of Trump’s campaign slogan “Make America Great Again,” the order favored “classical” styles of architecture, and suggested restrictions on public art.
Enacted in July of 2020, the order is now being repealed by the General Service Administration, allowing art and public projects on a federal level to display a variety of artistic styles.
While Trump’s executive order stated art commissioned by the program should portray “historically significant Americans or events of American historical significance or illustrate the ideals upon which our Nation was founded,” the Biden administration’s new regulations have broadened the scope.
Style and content restrictions have been dismissed, opening up a wider range of possibilities and opportunities for artists Biden administration officials say were being excluded from consideration for the Art in Architecture program, which oversees the commissioning of artworks for new federal buildings nationwide.
The former president’s order followed a surge of protests throughout the nation after the death of George Floyd, which ignited a widespread debate on race, some in relation to historical monuments depicting figures from the nation’s past.
Many people argued in favor of removing monuments that portrayed individuals who fought on the side of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Many argue the monuments are a modern-day symbol of the country’s sinister past of slavery and intense racial discrimination. Trump disagreed, insisting that tearing down those statues would be akin to expunging the history of the United States.
Nina Albert, the public buildings service commissioner of the General Services Administration, elaborated on the decision to reverse the orders of “Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again,”, stating:
“Incorporating contemporary art in our important civic spaces exemplifies how democratic societies benefit from the creative talents of individuals.”
“By supporting neither an official style nor subject matter, Art in Architecture seeks to include our artists who work in many styles and materials and come from the diverse communities of our nation,” she said.
According to Kyrstal Brumfield, associate administrator for the Office of Government-wide Policy in the General Services Administration, abolishing the strict criteria of Trump’s order is likely to advance the ability for many artists that come from minority or underrepresented communities throughout the nation.
“Art looks different in different parts of the country and in different communities,” Brumfield said. “And so now this allows us when we go into a federal building to potentially see art that reflects that local community and/or the individuals within that community and across the country.”
