The Cincinnati Art Museum has been awarded a $36,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support its upcoming exhibition, “Paintings, Politics and the Monuments Men: The Berlin Masterpieces in America.” The exhibition, running from July 9 to October 3, 2021, will explore the story behind the transfer of significant European paintings from Germany to the United States after World War II, marking the first blockbuster art exhibition of its kind.

The grant is part of the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects initiative, which selected over 1,100 projects totaling nearly $27 million in its second round of fiscal year 2021 funding. This funding aims to help arts organizations like the Cincinnati Art Museum reconnect with partners and audiences as the country moves toward a post-pandemic future, underscoring the importance of shared arts experiences.

“Paintings, Politics and the Monuments Men” will delve into the complex journey of 200 European paintings from the Berlin State Museums, which were exhibited across 14 U.S. museums before returning to Germany. The exhibition will feature these paintings alongside historical materials, highlighting the role of art during times of social upheaval and war, and emphasizing the significance of tracing the movement of cultural treasures. More information about the exhibition can be found at cincinnatiartmuseum.org/berlinmasterpieces.

Source: https://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/media/296415/nea-ppmm-nr.pdf