David P. Chun, American, 1898–1989; Fish Cove, 1935–1943; lithograph; image: 7 15/16 × 10 7/8 inches sheet: 11 15/16 × 14 1/8 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Gift of the Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration 174:1943
Joseph Percy Atkins Jr., American, 1927–1999; Landscape, 1938; poster paint on brown paper; 13 1/2 x 18 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Gift of the Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration 365:1943
The Work of Art: Delivered Art Resource and Engagement Kit is designed to help foster classroom engagement with artworks created by artists who participated in the Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1943. This resource has been created in conjunction with the exhibition The Work of Art: The Federal Art Project, 1935–1943, on view at the Saint Louis Art Museum until April 13, 2025. The artwork included is a part of the Museum’s collection, and we encourage you to continue to utilize these resources even after the exhibition closes.
The resources on this page have been compiled for educators, in order to support learning with The Work of Art: Delivered. They include a downloadable PowerPoint presentation for classroom use, digital files for engagement activities, additional information about artworks and artists, links to the exhibition audio guide, and other related resources.
PowerPoint and Engagement Activities
Each of the files below is downloadable for use in educational settings. These files include a PowerPoint presentation featuring all of the images and prompts included in The Work of Art: Delivered and PDF versions of engagement cards that accompany selected prompts.
Please Note: Sensory cards are designed to be two-sided, with an icon for one of the senses (e.g., taste) on the front side and corresponding looking questions on the back.
Learn More About Selected Artworks
Additional Resources
About the Exhibition
The Work of Art: The Federal Art Project, 1935–1943, on view at the Saint Louis Art Museum August 2, 2024, through April 13, 2025, presents a remarkable group of artworks that reflect the creative efforts of artists working under difficult circumstances. During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal initiated a series of nationwide support programs for the visual arts.
Fred Hollingsworth, American, 1891–1961; The South Side Religious Tent, Open Air, 1939; watercolor and gouache over graphite; 22 7/8 x 28 13/16 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Gift of the Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration 359:1943
Audio Guide
During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal initiated a series of nationwide support programs for the visual arts. The largest and most ambitious program, the Federal Art Project (FAP), put more than 10,000 artists to work. Hear from curators, a conservator, and Museum educators highlighting a selection of artwork from the exhibition.
The People’s Art Center
The People’s Art Center in St. Louis was founded in 1942 under the Federal Art Program. Remarkable as the first interracial art center in St. Louis, while much of the city was segregated, it offered African American artists opportunities to study and exhibit.
Houston Chandler, American, 1914–2015; Gorilla, c.1946; wood; 8 5/8 x 7 3/4 x 5 1/8 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Museum Purchase 1124:2010; © Houston Chandler
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.
