The National Endowment of the Arts has announced that Rocco Landesman will step down as chairman of the NEA at the end of the year. In a statement on the NEA website (included after the jump) Landesman said that he had only ever intended to serve one term, that he accomplished “more than I had ever thought possible,” and that it was time for him “to become a cliché” and retire to Miami Beach. Landesman was one of the NEA’s more controversial chairpersons in theatre circles, coming as he did from the for-profit theatre world. He didn’t allay fears when he said that it was time to think about “decreasing supply” of theatre, particularly when the NEA was under attack from a Republican congress. Under Landesman’s watch the NEA began to give fewer, larger grants, to organizations and to focus more on “creative placemaking” grants—the centerpiece of which was their “Our Town” grants, which gave $11.58 million to communities in all 50 states to “improve quality of life, encourage creative activity, create community identity and a sense of place, and help revitalize local economies.” To receive this money non-profit orgs had to partner with a local government body. NEA Senior Deputy Chairman Joan Shigekawa will serve as the acting head of the agency until a permanent successor is confirmed.

Statement from National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman

November 20, 2012

Today, Rocco Landesman confirmed his plans to step down as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts at the end of the calendar year:

“My intention has always been to serve one term, and we have been able to accomplish more than I had ever thought possible: sparking a national movement around creative placemaking, forging significant relationships with other federal agencies, creating an unprecedented healing arts partnership with the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and increasing both the scope and impact of our research office.

“We have continued to support and strengthen the entire spectrum of arts in this country, and we have been able to expand the national conversation through convenings, traditional media, and new technology. I am proud and honored to have served alongside such an amazing group of dedicated public servants.

“The time has come for me to become a cliché: I turned 65, am going to retire, and cannot wait to spend more time in Miami Beach.”

NEA Senior Deputy Chairman Joan Shigekawa will serve as the acting head of the agency until a permanent successor is confirmed.

For more info about the NEA, please visit www.nea.gov