Asking President-Elect Obama to Create a Secretary of the Arts

Stacie Strong | Jan 09, 2009 | there are 2 comments

Chicago Tap Theatre performing "Destinations." Photo by Josh Hawkins.

Who thinks that the arts are at least as important as commerce and transportation? Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Transportation are both Cabinet-level positions, but there is no similar position for the arts. Without a high-level advocate in the political process, the arts and individual artists lose their voice in government. All that is perhaps changing with a petition started by jazz musician Quincy Jones to ask President-Elect Obama to
appoint a Secretary of the Arts. Read on to learn more about how you can help by signing onto the petition.

As many of us know, funding for the arts has been in a slow (and sometimes fast) downward decline for years. Part of the reason why politicians can and do ignore the real need for arts in our communities and for sufficient arts funding is because there are very few high-level advocates for the arts inside government itself. The United States is unusual in its lack of support for the arts, and many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries.

Late last year, jazz legend Quincy Jones said in an interview with John Schaefer ("Soundcheck" on WNYC) that the "next conversation I have with President Obama is to beg for a Secretary of Arts." All of us can help Quincy - and the country - by signing onto a petition calling for the creation of a Cabinet-level position on the arts. To do so, just click on the link below, and be sure to pass the word on to all your friends.

http://www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html