H.R. 2664 — 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 section states congressional findings that (1) the arts strengthen the economy, improve healthcare, spark creativity and innovation, and unify communities, with 73% of participants agreeing they help understand other cultures; (2) U.S. museums lack diversity, featuring only 1.4% Black artists, 4% Black staff directors, and 2.5% Black owners of arts-entertainment businesses; (3) historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) produce diverse art professionals and conserve Black art; (4) arts programs face funding shortfalls, with 18 higher education institutions planning severe cuts or eliminations in 2018; (5) HBCUs have been underfunded by $12.6 billion relative to predominantly White institutions over the last 30 years; and (6) increased investment in HBCU arts programs supports affordable arts education for students of color and the conservation of Black artists' works.

This section expands the allowable uses of Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) grants under the Higher Education Act of 1965 by adding five new categories after paragraph (13) of subsection (a)—with existing paragraphs (14) and (15) redesignated as (19) and (20)—to support arts, arts education, and cultural programs at HBCUs as follows: (1) providing financial and other assistance to students in such programs; (2) establishing outreach programs and development offices for arts, arts education, and cultural departments; (3) providing comprehensive wraparound services for such students, including faculty and peer mentorship, work-based learning, guidance counseling, and career advising; (4) exhibiting, maintaining, monitoring, and protecting Black art collections; and (5) providing well-paid apprenticeships, internships, and fellowships through partnerships with nonprofit arts, arts education, and cultural institutes. The section further authorizes HBCUs to partner with the National Endowment for the Arts to carry out these new activities and defines "arts" to include performance, literary, visual, graphic, plastic, and decorative art forms used for self-expression and interpretation. (As background, HBCU grants support capacity-building at the nation's approximately 100 historically Black colleges and universities.)