The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced a new federal grant program called "Arts in Media" that now contains a subsection specifically for video game art. According to the press release, this is the first time that a federal agency recognizes video games as art.

Myatt said the NEA decided to expand the grant category to include games due to their ability to reach a large audience, which is in line with the agency’s overall goal: "to bring art to the American public… that allows the public to be both viewers and participants." Video games are viable grant candidates, she said, because technology allows anyone to experience art at any place and any time. Myatt said the NEA also wants the grant expansion to affirm and foster new forms of art, regardless of platform, and that by embracing games, the agency will demonstrate how art is evolving.

Check out the official NEA Announcement video.