Understanding American cultural policy: the multi-level governance of the arts and humanities

摘要

This article uses multi-level governance theory to investigate American cultural policy towards the arts and humanities. The National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965 articulates the value of the arts and humanities for the American people, providing the foundation for the development of a complex bureaucracy at state and federal levels. The resulting multi-level governance model highlights the interplay among public agencies at federal and state levels, the links with nonprofit organizations, the varied organizational structures that imply different mechanisms for involving citizens, and the diverse sources of funding. These findings show how American cultural policy is based on a fragmented but coordinated bureaucracy that supports a pluralistic society.