Are video games considered a form of art? In the United States, that debate is officially over, and the verdict is positive. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) opened up its 2012 submission window this week, and surprisingly, the guidelines have been updated with a new section called "Arts in Media," which (you guessed it) includes video games.
The official description reads, "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."
For anyone who isn't familiar with how the art industry works (at least in the US), the NEA is a government funded organization that provides many artists with the means of producing work. Artists may apply for up to $200,000 in grant money, and if their proposal is accepted, they won't have to starve. Basically. the NEA is the reason many artists can still afford to feed themselves without going commercial.
Game developers hoping to receive a grant will have plenty of competition, however. The category now encompasses not only television and radio but also satellite and web radio. A separate category would certainly be nice, but at least video games are finally getting some official recognition. For gamers, this means we may be hearing more about "public" works in the gaming industry, unaffiliating with any existing agencies -- assuming the NEA approves any video game proposals next year.
LONG FUCKING OVERDUE! Suck it Roger Ebert.
