http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-05-09-us-government-declares-games-are-art

US film critic Roger Ebert famously ignited passions back in 2010 with his assertion that video games were not and never could be labelled as art.

Well, it seems that his government disagrees, having now officially recognised video games as an artform.

As reported by Icrontic, a US government program called the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) now considers games eligible for funding.

The Arts on Radio and Television funding category has been renamed The Arts in Media, with its remit expanded to encompass interactive digital media.

"Projects may include high profile multi-part or single television and radio programs (documentaries and dramatic narratives); media created for theatrical release; performance programs; artistic segments for use within an existing series; multi-part webisodes; installations; and interactive games," reads the new assessment criteria.

Developers in the US can apply for a grant of up to $200,000 for any project that might "enhance the public good."

Anyone interested should probably be aware that they're only eligible if they intend to release their game for free. Still, it's the thought that counts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recognition! Yay!  

this is stupid

our goverment shouldnt be giving money for this type of stuff.

for games, painters, movies or anything. stop wasting our money. if "art" cant survive without these grants, then they dont deserve to stay around.

our goverment needs to stop picking winners and losers, thats not capitalism.

Best selling art.

I can only hope these adventure game studios (many of which are European) get funding like this (yes yes I KNOW this is the American Government...so funding can only be given to american devs).

Niche PC Adventure games FTW!

Endowments are provided by other people. People donate to the NEA, and is given to other people who show talent. Get it? It's like american idol. Rich guy pays money to find talented people, and then supports them.

the article makes it sound like the government is giving out these grants, which im against no matter what it is. whether its art, energy efficient windows, subsidising ethonal, subsidising that material that WWII unimforms where made out of, whatever. government should pick favorites, choosing winners and losers.

if this is private donors, i have nothing against it, but if it is from private rich people giving, then why does our government have to recognize it as art

better art.

we all have different standards

I agree. Pong > Black Ops.

Well at least thats one thing our government has gotten right.  

While I don't want to start a political skirmish, I must say that your stance on subsidies is far too black and white. Subsidies are proven, they make sense, and they work. The problem is that the government doesn't do enough to clamp down on the loop-holers. Similarly to the top 1% that don't pay nearly in taxes what they are supposed to pay due to loopholes, the best example comes from farming subsidies. I believe that farm subsidies, specifically corn, should end, or change.

However, subsidies are a great way to help bring certain things to sustainable levels. Like energy efficiency, or alternative energy like solar panels, the problem with the pricing is that the manufacturer hasn't reached a level of demand where the costs could greatly drop. However, for a lot of these energy alternatives, it is proven that they will ONE DAY have that demand, but really only when gas has reach like 8-10$ per barrel, then the demand wil go up, and the price will come down. Right now, solar panels and similar tech could be produced for the price the gasoline goes for, and we CAN get that relief either now, or when gas is double what it is now. 

Bottom line is that for those technologies that could be producing at a very marketable level NOW, subsidies makes sense. The people who infringe and take advantage of subsidies give it a very bad name, and make people dislike it in general.

I will agree that subsidies are out of control.