and promote the cultural development of our country. The founda-
tion is composed of two endowments, one for the creative and per-
forming arts, such as are housed in this building, and another for
the humanities — language, literature, history, philosophy and so on.

In signing the legislation, President Johnson said:

"What this bill really does is to bring active support to this great
national asset, to make fresher the winds of art in this great land of
ours. The arts and the humanities belong to the people, for it is,
after all, the people who create them. "

The cultivation of the arts and the humanities is, of course, no
new role of our colleges and universities. Indeed this has been a
primary function of these institutions of learning from the beginning.
Historically, the great universities have been the repositories of the
creative efforts of men to expound the human spirit through arts and
letters. This University is no exception. The support, encouragement
and promotion of the fine arts are important among the activities of
this community of scholars.

This handsome new building, in itself an esthetic refinement of
this campus, is an indication of a renewed emphasis at the University
of Maryland upon the artistic endeavors of those who are studying,
and will study here. I think we will all agree that the location of this
Fine Arts Center here will enhance the scholarship not only of the
students who specialize in these disciplines but all the other young
men and young women who come to College Park to continue their
studies.

Before concluding these remarks, may I say once again that I am
pleased to have this opportunity to take part in these dedicatory
exercises, and may I express again my thanks for the personal recogni-
tion I have received here today.

And now, Dr. Elkins and members of the Board of Regents, I take
pleasure in presenting to you, on behalf of the people of Maryland,
this J. Millard Tawes Fine Arts Center of the University of Maryland.

256