It is a sub-agency of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities, along with the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Our country is broke and in horrendous debt, why do we continue to support agencies which are wants and not needs and this includes the Department of Education which certainly isn't necessary.
The foundation also sponsors the ballet, operas, and symphony orchestras which are generally attended by people with plenty of money to pay for tickets without them needing to be subsidized by taxpayer dollars. Democrats say they're for the little guy, but they sure don't show it.
The head of the National Endowment of the Arts is appointed by the President, and the person serves as long as the President is in office. They have a huge budget with over 400 employees with average salaries of over $100,000 (more than twice the average salary in the private sector). It definitely pays to work for the federal government.