ARTS

Is NEA Oath Unconstitutional?: Attorneys for the Newport Harbor Art Museum and the Bella Lewitzky Dance Foundation asked a federal judge Monday to declare unconstitutional the National Endowment for the Arts’ anti-obscenity oath. The attorneys argued that the NEA provision, which required arts groups to certify the content of art or dance works when applying for 1990 federal grants, places a “potential chill” upon free speech. At stake are two grants totaling $172,000 to the museum and the dance company that were awarded but not distributed because the groups refused to sign the provision. U.S. District Judge John G. Davies said a ruling will be issued soon.