Posted on 01/15/2009 3:35:06 PM PST by Zakeet
A call for President-elect Barack Obama to give the arts and humanities a Cabinet-level post -- perhaps even create a secretary of culture -- is gaining momentum.
By yesterday, 76,000 people had signed an online petition, started by two New York musicians who were inspired by producer Quincy Jones. In a radio interview in November, Jones said the country needed a minister of culture, like France, Germany or Finland has. And he said he would "beg" Obama to establish the post.
Listening in New York, Jaime Austria, a bass player with the New York City Opera, and Peter Weitzner, also a bassist, took his suggestion to heart and started the online campaign.
Depending on how you define culture, the portfolio could cover many areas, supporters say. "We are not quite sure, especially in this environment, what the secretary of the arts could provide, but foremost is advocacy for arts education and awareness of the financial rewards the arts bring to a community," said Weitzner, the host of a chamber music series at the Brooklyn Public Library.
Jones, who has been promoting the idea for at least 10 years by his count, said yesterday that he has specific responsibilities in mind for the office. He wants an education system that teaches the history and personalities of the arts, particularly music.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Quit spending my hard earned money.
How about Chubby Checker for this post and the nation can do the twist!
Obama makes Wile Coyote seem like a successful CEO!
Chuck D for Arts Czar. Less bebop and more hip-hop..........................
We need an arts czar who can oversee government-approved speech and regulate everything else, don’t we?
Good, we can have federally subsidized fiddlers fiddling while NY and DC do an Islamofascist nuclear burning.
I love art and music probably more than the next guy, but I dislike the gubmint in my life more (or is it less?)
Totally unnecessarily, both Constitutionally and practically.
I am an artist, and appreciate it greatly. This however is foolishness.
what is with the term Czar all of a sudden?
this is getting creepy.
It's prostitution by another name.
now the stinkin commies want to bring the czars to Us!
What's up with that??????
That is so gay...and soviet and communist and marxist sounding...Don'tcha think?
FMCDH(BITS)
Great. As long as these 76,00 people PAY FOR IT and not me.
Bigger. Fish. To. Fry.
I would like to know exactly what great art is being created today. In my view there’s been no art that’s been created in the last forty years that could be called great. Call me a philistine, but great art is a thing of the past.
.......I would like to know exactly what great art is being created today......
The goal of every serious artist is to get a grant. In school they discuss how to get grants and tailor their work to be grant worthy. The art Czar would be a grant dispenser.
Artists think they are entitled much as handicapped folks. That means society owes them.
If this goes through, I expect the first "Secretary of the Arts" will be Shepard Fairey.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2121506/posts
Obama’s Venomous Artist-Fundraiser
So what’s the difference between a Scientist and an Artist?
Czar’s belomg in communist Russia not the USA.
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