Literary Arts Fund created to rekindle a love for reading

The State of Literature and Mellon Foundation’s Response

Key Concepts:

• Decline in Reading: A significant decrease in both reading for pleasure and overall literacy rates.
• Noncommercial Literary World: The network of small presses, literary centers, residencies, and fellowships that support writers and writing.
• Philanthropy & Arts Funding: The role of foundations like the Mellon Foundation in supporting arts and humanities organizations.
• DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion): The Mellon Foundation’s commitment to social justice and equitable access within the arts and humanities.
• Dehumanization: The increasing trend of “othering” and devaluing certain lives through language and action.

I. The Declining Landscape of Reading

The segment begins by highlighting a concerning trend: a 40% decline in reading for pleasure over the past 20 years, part of a longer-term downward trajectory. This decline is coupled with falling reading skills among both students and adults. Elizabeth Alexander, President of the Mellon Foundation, acknowledges this as a “crisis,” extending beyond simply a decrease in reading habits to encompass a perceived loss of “leisure time” dedicated to reading. She notes that people are increasingly less likely to use their free time to “disappear into a book.” This crisis is further exacerbated by “pressures with book banning,” where books are being removed from libraries and schools, limiting access to diverse stories and perspectives. Data indicates a “continuing decline in reading for pleasure” and a “steady drop in literacy rates.”

II. Mellon Foundation’s $50 Million Initiative

In response to this crisis, the Mellon Foundation is launching a $50 million, five-year initiative to bolster the “noncommercial literary world.” This funding will be directed towards nonprofit organizations that support writers and writing, specifically focusing on:

• Small Presses: Including those specializing in literature and translation.
• Residencies & Fellowships: Providing writers with dedicated time and space to create.
• Literary Centers: Establishing spaces where literature is valued and accessible.
• Readings & Workshops: Facilitating engagement with literature and fostering community.

Alexander emphasizes the importance of these spaces, recalling her own early career experiences at places like The Loft in Minneapolis, where she connected with audiences and fellow artists. The foundation’s goal is to ensure the survival of these vital components of the literary ecosystem, recognizing that “someone has to put [words] on paper,” “give spaces for there to be readings and workshops,” and “make literary centers where people know literature is valued.”

III. Broader Context: Funding Cuts & Political Climate

The initiative is occurring against a backdrop of broader challenges to arts funding. Alexander points to federal funding cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). To mitigate the impact of these cuts, the Mellon Foundation also provided grants to state humanities councils, supporting local initiatives like oral histories of veterans and community poetry workshops. These efforts are seen as complementary to the direct support for literary organizations.

IV. Mellon Foundation’s Commitment to DEI and Addressing Dehumanization

The Mellon Foundation has faced criticism from conservative groups for its focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). However, Alexander firmly defends the foundation’s mission, stating it remains unchanged: “We fund arts, humanities, libraries, archives… We do it with a social justice lens.” She emphasizes the foundation’s commitment to “access, equity,” and supporting “which voices have not been brought to the fore or supported.”

Alexander identifies the “biggest crisis of our time” as an “atmosphere of dehumanization,” characterized by the “othering” of individuals and the “coarseness of language and action” that devalues certain lives. She argues that literature possesses “superpowers” to combat this dehumanization by fostering empathy and understanding. She believes that “learning, but also the arts and in the case of today's topic, the word, are the best way… for people to see each other, and for people to understand that we all live different lives.” While she refrains from directly naming specific political figures, she implies that this dehumanization extends to “the highest levels of government.”

V. The Power of Words & Literature’s Role

Throughout the segment, the importance of words is repeatedly emphasized. Alexander references her own poem, “Praise Song for the Day,” read at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, highlighting the power of words to “encounter each other.” She quotes lines from the poem: “We encounter each other in words. Words, spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed. Words to consider, reconsider.” This underscores the belief that literature is not merely a leisure activity but a crucial tool for building connection, fostering empathy, and ultimately, ensuring societal survival.

Conclusion:

The segment paints a concerning picture of a declining literary landscape, compounded by political and economic pressures. The Mellon Foundation’s $50 million initiative represents a significant effort to revitalize the noncommercial literary world and address the broader crisis of dehumanization through the power of words and stories. The foundation’s commitment to DEI and social justice underscores its belief that equitable access to literature is essential for a thriving and empathetic society. The core takeaway is that supporting writers, small presses, and literary centers is not simply about preserving an art form, but about safeguarding a vital component of our collective humanity.