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CCF CETA Artists Project • New York City 1978-80
In New York, our experience with the CETA Artists Project has drammatically shown us in
real, concrete terms how steady employment benefits both the artist and the public.
— Rochelle Slovin, Director CCF CETA Artists Project (Testimony to Congress, 1980)
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More than 600 artists — visual, literary and performing — were employed in New York City
through the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA). The Cultural Council
Foundation (CCF) oversaw the largest project, with 300 artists and another 200 artists
working in four concurrent projects administered by Hospital Audiences, La Mama ETC,
American Jewish Congress and Theater for the Forgotten. Additional individual CETA
positions were distributed through the Borough President offices.
The majority of artists in New York’s CCF project reported directly to CCF but
others reported to one of seven subcontractors: The Association of American Dance Companies
coordinated dancers; Jazzmobile and the Brooklyn Philharmonia coordinated musicians;
the Association of Hispanic Arts coordinated a multi-disciplinary group of Hispanic artists;
the Black Theater Alliance created a dedicated theatrical company; the Foundation for
Independent Video and Film
coordinated filmmakers/video artists; and the Foundation for the
Community of Artists (publishers of the Artworkers News) oversaw a seven-member
documentation team made up of photographers, writers and an archivist.
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Most CCF artists were assigned directly to a community organization. Others worked in
project teams (such as FIVF’s video crews) or performing companies (such as the Jazzmobile
CETA Big Band).
Some were commissioned to do murals and other public works.
A group of writers and poets was assembled into the “Words to Go” troupe.
“Words to Go” mobile troupe of poets and authors (photo: Marbeth) |
When the CCF project entered into its hiring stage in late 1977, over 4000 artists applied
for its 300 positions, all of them meeting stringent requirements for both professional
achievement and proof of continued unemployment. Those who were hired were given a salary
of $10,000 per year, with benefits (far more than could be earned in the typical day job
at that time). It was expected that they would work in community and project assignments
four days per week and on their own self-initiated projects one day per week. Two of the
artists hired, Joseph Delaney and Herman Cherry, had worked in the
WPA arts projects in the 1930s.
The contract given to CCF by the City of New York required that its artists would
engage in classes, workshops and master classes, lectures and demonstrations,
consultancies, design services, literary services, theater services, performances,
creation of new works (such as murals, dances, plays), residencies and exhibitions.
The number of each was exactly specified. The community organizations who
requested one or more CETA artists included schools, cultural centers and museums,
community centers, senior centers, civic and historical associations, city and
borough agencies, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and PATH.
After its first year, the CCF project had accomplished more than double its
contracted expectations. When it was reauthorized for a second year,
the number of artist lines in the project was raised from 300 to 325.
Almost 50 years later, few CCF CETA public art projects remain visible. Among these are
two ceramic murals in the Clark Street subway station in Brooklyn (designed
by Johan Sellenraad and Alan Samalin, and realized in ceramic by Joe Stallone).
Four successful and popular murals installed in the World Trade Center were
lost in the two attacks on the building (1993 and 2001). Historical materials from and
about the project are housed at the New York City Municipal Archives.
Cynthia Mailman painting a mural for installation at the PATH |
Among those employed in the 1978-80 CCF project, many went on to very
successful
artistic careers, including sculptors Ursula Von Rydingsvaard, James Biederman and
Christy Rupp; painters Willie Birch and Hunt Slonem; photographer Dawoud Bey;
videographer Marc Levin; poets Charles Bernstein, Bob Holman and Pedro Pietri; dancers
Vic Stornant, Merian Soto and Martha Bowers. Some of the staff also went on to
successful careers including project director Rochelle Slovin, who became the
founding director of the Astoria-based Museum of the Moving Image; projects
coordinator Liz Thompson who became director of the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival
and then the Lower Manhattan Cultural Center. Theater artist coordinator Blondell
Cummings achieved considerable fame as a dancer/choreographer, and visual artist
coordinator Suzanne Randolph became a well recognized gallerist and arts consultant.
Because both CETA funding at the federal level and continuation at the city level
were political issues, CETA artists found it necessary to publicly demonstrate in
defense of continuation of the project. Nonetheless, by mid-1980, CETA was
winding down and the CCF Artists Project was forced to close. As one of its last acts,
it produced a book presenting the history and accomplishments of the project,
Artists Project: on the documentation and utilization of largely untapped resources.
During the term of the project CCF produced a monthly Journal documenting
the project. Photos from the CCF book and scans of twenty Journal volumes
can be accessed from links below.
New York Public Library - The Wallach Division's photography collection has acquired 100 vintage prints
of photographs
of the CCF CETA Artists Project made in 1978 by two members of its
Documentation Unit, George Malave and Blaise Tobia.
Art/Work - an exhibition on the history of the NYC CETA artist projects
took place at City Lore and Cuchifritos galleries, December 2021 - April 2022
Photographs from the CCF CETA Artists Project book part 1 • part 2
Scanned copies of the CCF CETA Journal (March 1978 - August 1980)
Documentation Unit additional photographs • articles
There were many other photographers among the CCF artists. Examples of their work are atCETA Artist-Photographers
Full List of CCF CETA Artists & Administrators
Wikipedia Entry: CETA Artists Project (NYC Cultural Council Foundation 1978-80)
• Homepage • Legacy Project • National Overview • Promoting CETA Arts History • Resources •