Posters for the Illinois Art Project

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The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a Depression and World War Two era Federal agency, employing millions on public works projects and operating theatrical and literacy projects. It also fed children and distributed food, clothing, and housing. Almost every community in the United States had a park, bridge or school constructed by the WPA. Created by order of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the WPA was funded by Congress in the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.

As part of its overall mission, the WPA published posters for theatrical productions, WW2 propaganda, public health services, tourism, war bond drives, etc..

Pictured here are four posters for the Illinois Art Project.

Hull-House community workshop

# Title: Hull-House community workshop Register now : Free classes in painting, sculpture, pottery, weaving, poster art / / Beard.

# Date Created/Published: [Illinois] : Federal Art Project, WPA Ill., [1938]

# Medium: 1 print on board (poster) : silkscreen, color.

# Summary: Poster for arts classes at Hull House, showing a budding plant, a sculpture of a bird, and an artist's palette.

Art classes for children

# Title: Art classes for children / Bender.

# Creator: Bender, Albert M. artist

# Date Created/Published: Chicago : Illinois Art Project, [1940]

# Medium: 1 print on board (poster) : silkscreen, color.

# Summary: Poster showing a boy and a girl painting.

Free neighborhood classes for adults

# Title: Art - Free neighborhood classes for adults ... enroll now

# Date Created/Published: [Chicago], Ill. : Federal Art Project, WPA, [1936 or 1937]

# Medium: 1 print on board (poster) : silkscreen, color.

# Summary: Poster from the WPA Adult Education program of the Chicago Board of Education announcing free neighborhood art classes, showing men and women working at easels.

Exhibition of work by the students

# Title: Exhibition of work by the students / Osborn.

# Creator: Osborn, Erel artist

# Date Created/Published: Chicago, Ill. : WPA Federal Art Project, [between 1936 and 1939]

# Medium: 1 print on board (poster) : silkscreen, color.

# Summary: Poster for a student art exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago, showing a canvas on an easel.