Celebrate 90 Years of Art for the People
2026 will mark the 90th anniversary of the WPA Poster Division of the Federal Art Project — one of the most remarkable efforts in our country’s history that gave artists jobs that worked for the public good. These posters weren’t just eye-catching, they were public service tools that promoted everything from public health and safety to education, national parks, the arts — and even hope — during some of the hardest times in the U.S.
Our project Posters for the People, led by curator and author Ennis Carter, has spent two decades recovering, preserving, and sharing these powerful works—many of which were nearly lost to history. Now you can bring this rich legacy to life in your community through engaging, hands-on programming:
The Traveling Exhibit
This engaging exhibit features original WPA posters, high-quality reproductions, and rare New Deal signage—showcasing the power of public art to serve the common good in the 1930s & 40s.
It’s fully scalable for different spaces and can be displayed on walls or with our mobile display racks.
Optional add-ons include talks, workshops, and hands-on screenprinting activities.
Hands-On Screenprinting
This hands-on activity invites people of all ages to roll up their sleeves and experience the art of screenprinting—just like the WPA artists of the 1930s.
Participants choose from historically inspired designs and print their own take-home poster using traditional methods. It’s a fun, interactive way to connect with history, creativity, and the power of art with a message.
"Fireside Chat" with Ennis Carter: Posters for the People
Join author and curator Ennis Carter for a lively talk filled with images, stories, and behind-the-scenes discoveries.
Learn how an incomplete government record of just 900 of the 35,000 posters designed between 1936 – 1943 led to a nationwide search—digging through collections, basements, and attics—to document nearly 2,300 WPA-era designs and counting.
This conversation explores how design, government, and community came together to create some of the most iconic public art in American history.
Part history, part detective story, part inspiration.
The New Deal Film Fest
A collection of short films made during the WPA to document and promote the New Deal programs. Formats include commercially produced propaganda, documentary archive footage, interviews with WPA artists, and creative art films made at the time.
Most films were made by filmmakers hired as part of the WPA Federal Art Project.
- 7 Short Films
- Approx. 100 minutes
- Curator talk available
Custom Community Programs
WPA posters touched nearly every part of civic and social life.
We can build on that legacy with custom programs tailored to your community.
Together, we can collaborate to create engaging, themed events that connect history to what matters most today for your community.
Bring Posters for the People to Your Community!
We’d love to bring Posters for the People to your community!
This is a powerful time to reflect on and celebrate the ideals of the New Deal—public investment, creative work, and community care—especially as we face new challenges and conversations about the role of government and civic life in the U.S. today.
Whether you’re interested in hosting the exhibit, planning a talk, or creating a custom program, let us know a bit about you and your ideas. We’ll follow up to explore what’s possible—costs are based on your budget and offered on a sliding scale.
Get the WPA Poster Book!
Arriving just in time for the 90th anniversary of the Federal Art Project, Posters for the People: Art of the WPA features nearly 500 of the best posters produced by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the 1930s and 1940s. Available in hardcover or paper back, this book makes a great gift and is essential reading for artists, designers, collectors of Americana, and anyone interested in United States history.