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In the United states, there is a historical tradition or support for the arts by individuals and private groups; Carnegie and other wealthy people-have built art galleries, concert halls and so on, as well as offering financial support to artists. In the United States, government's main role has been to encourage this type of contribution by enacting measures for a variety of tax deductions and incentives. Because the United States is a federation of states, as with other fields of administration, the promotion of culture is carried out mainly at the state level. In view of the necessity for a national organization for consultation and coordination in relation to cultural projects, the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities was founded in1965. The National Endowment for the Arts (hereafter referred to as the NEA) was then established under the auspices of the National Foundation, as a federal organization whose alms are !

to assi

st artistic and cultural activities. The NEA is the central organization for the promotion of arts and culture and for the protection of folk culture by the United States Government. Other independent United States governmental cultural organizations are the Institute of Museum Services, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art and other national cultural facilities. The responsibility for the protection of cultural properties also primarily rests with the state governments. In the case of important historical monuments and other properties which should be preserved because of their importance to the entire nation, however, protection is carried out at the federal level by the Department of the Interior and by other organizations.

Official art promotion organizations exist in all of the fifty states, six districts and territories. The state governments conduct cultural policy independently. In 1990, the cultural budgets for all of the states totaled 273,32 million dollars (33.350 million yen). Organizations in each respective state form groups who cooperate with each other to carry out activities across state borders. Of all of the state governments, New York State places the greatest emphasis on assistance to art.

In 1992, public and private funds for artistic and cultural activities amounted to, Respectively, 743 million dollars (90.650 million yen) and 5.200 million dollars (634,400 million yen). Private contributions played an important financial role. The business recession of recent years is popularizing the use of public relations money for the sponsorship of art, as well as support for art that is involved in marketing activities.