Back in 1990 then-chairman of the NEA, John Frohnmayer, denied grants to performance artists Karen Finley, John Fleck, Holly Hughes and Tim Miller on the grounds that their work was indecent. They took the case to the Supreme Court and won, initially, having their grants reinstated. Then, in 1998, The Clinton administration appealed the decision and won, with the Supreme Court deciding that yes, it is okay for the NEA to consider standards of decency when making grant determinations. A sticky wicket, indeed.

Now, Six years after that decision the NEA 4 willgather for the first time to discuss whether art is more “decent” now, and how the ruling affects artists today.

When: Thursday, April 15 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Rosenthal Pavilion, Kimmel Center for Student Life, New York
University, 60 Washington Square South, Tenth Floor.

It is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the NYU Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality (CSGS) and The Fales Library, and co-sponsored by the American Studies Program. For more information, call 212-992-9545.