H.R. 5895: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional uses of funds for grants to strengthen historically Black colleges and universities, and for other purposes.

This bill expands the allowable uses of grants under the Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) program to include activities related to arts, arts education, and cultural programs.

Specifically, the bill allows grants under the HBCU program to be used for

• providing financial and other assistance to students in arts, arts education, and cultural programs;
• establishing outreach programs and development offices for arts, arts education, and cultural departments;
• providing comprehensive wraparound services for arts, arts education, and cultural students, including faculty and peer mentorship, work-based learning opportunities, guidance counseling, and career advising;
• exhibiting, maintaining, monitoring, and protecting Black art collections in exhibition and in storage; and
• providing well-paid apprenticeship, internship, and fellowship opportunities to students in arts, arts education, and cultural programs through partnerships with nonprofit arts, arts education, and cultural institutes.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.