What kind of projects did the WPA fund besides traditional construction?

The Works Progress Administration (WPA), established during the New Deal in response to the Great Depression, funded a wide array of projects aimed at providing jobs and improving public welfare. Among these initiatives were significant investments in arts and culture, which included live theater productions, art installations, and various literature projects. This emphasis on cultural enrichment was not only a means to provide employment but also a way to preserve and enhance American heritage through the arts during a challenging economic time. The Federal Theatre Project, a subdivision of the WPA, exemplified these efforts by sponsoring plays and performances across the nation, providing artists with a platform while engaging the public in the arts.

In contrast, the other options reference areas that did not receive WPA funding. Environmental clean-up efforts were sometimes addressed by other New Deal agencies, but they were not a primary focus of the WPA. Space exploration programs emerged much later, particularly post-World War II, and were not part of the WPA's initiatives. Military defense initiatives were also outside the purview of the WPA, which concentrated on domestic economic recovery and public works. Thus, the correct answer highlights the WPA's unique role in promoting the arts and culture as a critical component of its mission.