Mon, May 23, 2011 | 06:41 BST
Debate over: Video games now officially art
Are games art? Yes. They are. Don’t argue! It’s the law.
Well, not law, but governmental definition – Forbes reports that the US National Endowment for the Arts has expended the definition of its jurisdiciton to include video games.
“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. Short films, five minutes and under, will be considered in packages of three or more.”
The new definition comes into play in 2012, and will allow game developers to apply for grants of up to $200,000, alongside the more traditional artists listed above.
The National Endowment for the Arts was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the US government, and provides grant money for individual projects as well as initiatives.
Thanks, Ripten.
9 
Posted in: America, Trade
Tags: art, games as art
9 comments
#1
TheWulf
23/05/11, 6:52 am
Woohoo!
#2
thesupersakura
23/05/11, 7:27 am
Finally developer teams will be recognized for their great contributions! =D
#3
GwynbleiddiuM
23/05/11, 9:49 am
so, Witcher 2 must have convinced ‘em
#4
The_Red
23/05/11, 10:14 am
Video Games 2. Rodger Ebert 0.
#5
xino
23/05/11, 3:12 pm
who gives a f*k?
people are worried about the economy, recession, shares, revenues, prices, jobs, business, lost, profit.
and some people are banging on about games are art…seriously who gives a sh*!?
only people who have nothing better to do will make a big deal out of it
#6
Phoenixblight
23/05/11, 3:22 pm
@5
How about you read the article and you would see why people care.
#7
ManuOtaku
23/05/11, 3:28 pm
“The new definition comes into play in 2012, and will allow game developers to apply for grants of up to $200,000, alongside the more traditional artists listed above”.
Hope this means cheaper games in the future****keep fingers crossed******
#8
DSB
23/05/11, 3:56 pm
The fact that an industry is being supported really doesn’t mean anything. This is pretty standard practice in a lot of European countries where the videogame industry is on the radar. It’s a question of federally subsidizing an industry that you know will make that money back in high tech jobs and investment.
For anyone who’s ever been in an actual art gallery, it’s pretty obvious that (the vast majority of) videogames have a way’s way to go. It’s all emotive, beautiful and engaging, and you could always argue that as being art, but then the very same thing would go for most soap operas.
#9
osric90
23/05/11, 5:46 pm
@8 Yeah, but it’s a huge step for mankind.