The grand notion that government has a key role to play in the sponsoring of artistic production and that the arts are linked to national prestige has lead many countries around the world to establish Ministries of Culture. Here, in the “wealthiest country in the world”, we apparently don’t see the need for too much art and beauty. So, a simple agency – the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) – will do. (BTW, the NEA doesn’t really have an
endowment, but that’s another story.) You may have heard some brouhaha recently from “conservatives” (a.k.a. the people that brought us two wars and passionately promoted the wisdom of the markets) about the NEA getting $50 million in the recent economic stimulus bill, bringing its overall budget to about $200 million. By comparison, we are currently spending $341 million a DAY on the war in Iraq yet, funding for the arts somehow manages to be more controversial! Ms. Cosmopolite wonders what kind of folks would vote for bombs over art? Talk about upside down values.
Apparently, the NEA is currently looking for new leadership. To generate some new thinking on the future of the agency, the
LA Times recently ran a piece asking artists, activists, creative thinkers, and a few duds to answer the question, “IF I RAN THE NEA”. Take a look here:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/02/nea-if-i-ran-th.html.
The article got me thinking about what
I would do if I ran the agency…
First, I would do away with the current NEA slogan, “Because a great nation
deserves great art.” This line gives me the hives from start to finish and raises many questions. Does a great nation come before great art or the other way around? Based on what criteria does one define
greatness? I also don’t get the
deserve part. Is there a nation on the planet that doesn’t merit culture? In my mind, the creation of art does not occur in a parallel universe, but is a naturally occurring byproduct of society. Instead of this rather empty line, I would borrow the slogan of a colleague of mine from the Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture that captures my sentiment perfectly:
Art=Culture=Community
Secondly, instead of funding “artistic excellence”, I would rewrite the grant-making criteria to focus on fostering artistic innovation and community building. I would commit at least 50% of the budget to funding arts organizations with budgets of less than $5 million, and insure that their programming reflected the diversity and spirit of their communities authentically. Certainly, watching a world-class symphonic performance or ballet is an astonishing thing, but I believe that true love for the arts comes from first-hand experiences. The hours I spent in dance rehearsals, the glamour of putting on a costume and painting my face before stepping on a stage to twirl and spin in front of a small, but adoring audience deepened my appreciation for watching professional dance companies perform immeasurably. Sure, arts appreciation programs that focus on the “masters” and “classics” are important, but not enough to sustain an authentic connection. I want to see small, innovative organizations that bring joy and beauty to their communities thrive. Let’s focus more on the electrifying experience of being creatively engaged and less on being arbiters of good taste.
I would also make sure the NEA was staffed with bright, well-rounded, happy, creative folks that believe in the power of art to inspire, heal, and unite. The entire agency should reflect fresh thinking and innovation – from website communication, to job descriptions, to office décor. Let the NEA be a catalyst for a cultural movement that values the role of artists and arts, in a happy and healthy society.
Lastly, I would insert a clause that the NEA would never fund anything to do with Jeff Koons! (In my view, he is the vulgar and vacuous poster boy of all that is wrong with market driven art that is highly promoted and leaves most people cold and confused.)
So, here are my initial thoughts on the topic. If President Obama is interested in hearing more, he can give me a ring. In the meantime, I am curious to hear – How would YOU run the NEA?
Best of everything,
Ms. Cosmopolite
Press Room