The Indiana State University's Permanent Art Collection contains approximately 4,000 works of art; many from the period of the Works Progress Administration (1935 - 1941) and so are roughly contemporary with when Federal Hall was constructed in 1934.

The art housed in Federal Hall have been carefully chosen to be contemporary with, or sympathetic to, the building and the Scott College of Business.

The Great Depression (1929-1939) was a bleak time for many Americans and many of the artists for the Works Progress Administration Federal Arts Project chose to reflect that in works that represented toil and hardship. Others chose to celebrate “the worker” and the works from the period in Federal Hall represent both views.

As many as 10,000 artists were employed by the Works Progress Administration Federal Arts Project between 1935 and 1943 to create murals, easel paintings, sculpture, graphic art, posters, photography, Index of American Design documentation, theater scenic design, and arts and crafts. Artists were paid $23.60 a week. (Wikipedia, Federal Art Project)