NEH Partners with the White House to Host an Arts and Culture Summit for America’s 250th
White House Photography Office
White House Photography Office
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), in partnership with the Salute to 250 White House Task Force, hosted an Arts and Culture Summit for America’s 250th Anniversary on February 27, 2026. The purpose of the Summit was to share the vision and plans of Task Force 250 with leaders across cultural institutions, highlight organizations that already have plans underway, inspire others to plan their own 250th initiatives, and connect leaders who might collaborate with one another.
White House Photography Office
White House Photography Office
The event, held in the historic Indian Treaty Room at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, gathered 100 guests from across the country. Approximately 25 speakers presented from various corners of the arts, culture, and humanities fields, including NEH, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, and the Department of Education, in addition to Freedom 250 and other non-government cultural organizations focused on celebrating America during the Semiquincentennial year.
Broadway performer and film actor Laura Osnes sang “America the Beautiful” a capella followed by panel discussions. Panelists discussed a variety of relevant topics, from Art in Embassies’ upcoming Venice Art Biennale, to rigorous scholarship around the Biblical roots of America’s founding, to films like Angel Studio’s Young Washington and RUSH: The Revolution’s Indispensable Doctor, to online interactives like the Signing the Promise AR-experience and the University of Virginia’s foundingUS hub of presidential papers. Many of the featured projects have received NEH funding. Presenters also explored deeper questions impacting the humanities and arts, such as: What might excellence in American art exhibitions and programing look like for America’s 250th and into the next 250 years? How could films based in American history inspire virtuous character in our youth? How would understanding America’s foundation in the Jewish and Christian principles of individual dignity, freedom, and responsibility, impact how we carry our democratic republic forward?
White House Photography Office
White House Photography Office
Many attendees left the Summit inspired, with renewed focus toward creative and scholarly efforts on projects valuing our nation’s history during this monumental year and envisioning how the humanities can support human flourishing during America’s next 250 years.
White House Photography Office
White House Photography Office