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United States Secretary of the Arts.Date: August 2, 2009
Some of you may know about this, some of you may not:
Several European countries have a secretary of the arts, who manage and support music, theatre, dance and the visual arts to keep them alive and successful. The United States does not, unfortunately.
Here is a link that will lead you to an electronic petition to sign, urging President Obama to assign such a cabinet member. Look it over, and if you feel compelled to sign, please do so.
Thank you,
Chris Kulmann
Kulmann.chris(a)gmail.com Replies (6): Threaded | Chronological
Robert Reck on August 2, 2009 9:53pm
I am tempted to post long reply. For now I will just say that I would imagine that there are more than a few of us that would be opposed to this. I can't imagine the government doing an effective job in deciding what sorts of art deserve to be promoted in a multi-cultural society.
Let the wild rumpus start!
Rob
Lee G. Barrow on August 3, 2009 6:04am
I also believe that going this route would only accomplish three things: 1) create yet another new government bureaucracy; 2) spend even more of our increasing tax dollars 3) have little if any positive impact on the arts.
Lee Barrow
on August 3, 2009 7:10am
I have to agree with Rob. I can't imagine that the full-spectrum of the arts would be supported by a government based office. I'd also be concerned that funding would be doled out to organizations supporting the party currently in power - be it the Democrats or the Republicans.
Pat Smith
Acappellago
on August 3, 2009 9:24am
My feeling, based upon friends moving to Europe exactly to pursue their careers, that this will be a good objective, but only after the administration solves the Economics, healthcare and Energy issues. Initiatives can be folded into educational reforms meanwhile, and if they are successful, and if the tax base improves, let the culture wars begin. I'm more concerned that hordes believe in creationist mythology over science.
States have organizations to evaluate/support arts- expand these.
Sig Rosen,MSW
on August 3, 2009 1:23pm
As I recall, this topic was discussed pretty thoroughly on the orchestra list within the last year or so. And as I recall, a consensus opinion was not reached there either. But several whom I thought would be in support of a nationally run arts program with a cabinet level secretary were not for a number of the reasons mentioned in above posts. I was surprised and enlightened.
on August 3, 2009 2:35pm
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned that fact that we already have a National Endowment of the Arts, which is an independent agency of the US government. It has been financed annually at the rate of around $180 million (at the high end) to a current rate of around $155 million.
Richard Bloesch
richard-bloesch(a)uiowa.edu
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