United States Artists

United States Artists (USA) is a national arts funding organization based in Chicago. USA is dedicated to supporting both the life and the work of living artists and cultural practitioners across the country by granting unrestricted awards. In 2003, the Urban Institute conducted a study which revealed that 96% of Americans valued art in their lives, while only 27% valued artists.* Motivated by the study and in response to the NEAs severe budget cuts, four inspiring leaders of the Ford, Rockefeller, Rasmuson, and Prudential Foundations spearheaded the launch of an organization to illuminate the value of artists to American society and address their economic challenges. Originally established in Los Angeles by Founding CEO Katharine DeShaw with the first set of 50 fellowships being announced in 2006, USA moved the headquarters to Chicago in 2014 under the leadership of Carolina Garcia Jayaram. In 2017, Deana Haggag was named President & CEO and today, USA continues to operate from Ch...