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Obama Stiffs the Arts
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The arts world is fuming over Obama's dubiously qualified "arts czar," and a humanities appointee who lacks a college degree. Judith H. Dobrzynski on the latest staffing dust-up.
Memo to President Obama, from the arts world: This is not what we had in mind.
During the campaign, candidate Obama raised high hopes among artists and arts institutions: He “got” their importance, even publishing an arts-policy statement. After the election, Quincy Jones fueled expectations with a crusade to create a Cabinet-level Minister of Culture or an arts czar at the White House. Dreams of bigger budgets for, and prominent chairs of, the NEA and the National Endowment for the Humanities, exploded like Twitter.
The three lesser appointments Obama has so far made have been strange at best and, at worst, deflating. None has much arts expertise; what they do have are political connections.
So, far the only sign of change has been the $50 million for arts grants the NEA received in the economic stimulus program—the first time the NEA was included in a recovery bill.
But for the most part, it’s been politics as usual. With the nation’s economic woes front-and-center, no one expected Obama to focus on the arts right away. Appointments to the NEA and NEH chairs could be weeks or even months away; in the meantime, they have acting chairpeople appointed by Obama, both seen as adequate for the short-term.
But the three lesser appointments Obama has so far made in the cultural arena—a Chicago lawyer named Kareem Dale, a Hollywood fund-raiser named Jeremy Bernard, and an Obama Senate staffer named Anita Decker—have been strange at best and, at worst, deflating. None has much arts expertise; what they do have are political connections. Bernard, appointed to a key post at the academically minded NEH, never graduated from college, though he claims a bachelor’s degree on his résumé.
Take Dale’s stealth appointment as “arts czar.” While the White House has confirmed the appointment to news outlets, no formal announcement has been forthcoming. The only official word on him from the White House came in mid-February, when Dale—who is partially blind—was made special assistant to the president for disability policy. He is currently holding both positions.
Dale—who has both law and MBA degrees from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign—is no slouch, but he has limited experience in the arts: He worked as a volunteer on Obama’s Arts Policy Committee, then as a paid staffer (becoming the campaign's disability-vote director). He was president of the board of Chicago’s Black Ensemble Theatre, where he helped raise $15 million to finance a new building. His father, who owns R.J. Dale Advertising and Public Relations, preceded him on the board, as chairman. Both the father—Robert J., but known as Bob—and son are members of Chicago’s vibrant African-American network and longtime Obama donors.
(Bob Dale, the father, won some unwelcome press notice for his small firm in recent years, after winning the $20 million Illinois State Lottery general marketing account in 2004. Within the next year, the state’s inspector general started a forensic-accounting probe of the firm, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The state auditor eventually cleared the firm of misuse or waste of funds, but said “insufficient reliable documentation and reconciliations of R.J. Dale's records” made it impossible to do the investigation properly, according to the Associated Press.)
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There is no reason the government should be supporting the arts anyway. This is not a crucial issue. This is not what government is for, propping up artists and musicians. These are luxury items. They should find a rich patron, like the old days. Paint a fresco for the church. Preferably not out of dung.
Is the telepromoter considered art?
This article should not have been needed. Arts Czar? haha. man.
He's been in office what...70 days? Politics as usual? Obama is many things, but he's hardly politics as usual... I'm all for the arts, but Dobrzynski sounds just like the groups of irrelevance (Cigar Rollers of America, In-Line Skate Security Agents) who are pleading for a bailout. First they were bandwaggoning Obama's presidency, then the billions created out of thin air for banks, autos, etc.
To recap: give the man some time, and get a sense of timing!
Gosh I do love Republican humor. Original and clever, with just a touch of talking points.
Mmm... I wonder if Palin or Jindal will exploit this crack in the usually reliable liberal arts demo? A lousy fifty million is insulting in these flush times. It just might make the NEA long for another patron like Reagan. The Daily Bust at it's best.
The Daily Bust, at it's best! I'm imagine it won't be long before the NEA folks will be longing for another true patron like Ronnie.
Clearly, the thing to do is rescind the 50 million we are giving the arts now and take away these superfluous art positions.
as an actor and a writer, i've never understood republican hostility towards artists; i mean, at least artists create something as opposed to living off of unearned trust funds or attending expensive universities on legacy scholarsships. but also, i really don't see the need for govt sponsorship of the arts beyond recognition of lifetime acheivement and jurying contests for public art. i mean, really, the nea has historically given grants to artists who are already successful, who don't need the money. these days, the nea grants money to states so as not to support controversial artists on the national level. a friend of mine just received such a grant $5000 for her poetry collection. many american artists naively believe that govt support for the arts, a la europe, is great but the reality is that unless an artist in europe or other socialist countries is accepted in to the academies at a young age, they are nobody. there are no theatres or museums for non govt supported artists in europe or other socialist countries. many eastern european artists are general labor in england as i write this.american artistic expression is what needs the support and that is UNCLE SAM'S responsibility, not funding. so when a republican crackpot politician rails against a mapplethorpe or whomever, the govt's role is to politely thank the politician and then tell him or her to SHUT THE F*^K UP!
The frakkin tragedy is that the same people that require therapy for their mental illnesses (ie. "shadows on the wall as reality" believers a la allegory of the cave) -- are the same people that, more than anyone else, NEED the arts to help them process/understand their own human condition.
And it us, the artists, who for some reason, still feel compelled to create and to heal and to reflect - so as to relieve some of the universal pain felt by all of humanity.
The whole damn thing is a farce. And the artists are undeniably getting bent over and made fools of. Like Lavache, only without the whole "people actually listening and appreciating the value that exists in the arts thing".
@xbainx
You're normally
One of the
Funnier
And more spirited
Posters here.
That's why
That top item
Is SO disappointing.
Art is hard work
And deserves
a paycheck
Just like anything else
We value.
the best artists
are struggling artists
toughen yourselves
and create something
We value.
jamdive-
"as an actor and a writer, i've never understood republican hostility towards artists."
Do the words "crackpot" and "SHUT THE F*^K UP," give you any clue?
Curiously, you sound like you should be a republican. You don't believe the government should either sponsor OR opine on art - that it should butt out altogether. Right on! Remember that it was Tipper Gore who spearheaded the censorship effort aimed at musicians in the late '80s. Members of both parties bloviate about the morality of content and its impact of children and culture. Sanctimony is the easiest card in the world to play.
You have more in common with your bogeymen Republicans than you think. Don't get it twisted.
The arts employt about 6 million Americans.
A survey in the '90s revealed that more Americans attend professional arts events than attend pro sports...and they have a greater impact on the economy, since those attendees also are more likely to patronize restaurants before and bars after.
This by itself proves the value of arts funding in a stimulus package.
Conservatives do not hate artists. Artists should be considered the prototype for capitalism. If you don't produce what people want to buy, you starve. The closest analog would be perhaps professional golfers who get no salary and if they don't win, they starve. What conservatives don't like is when artists think they are entitled to government money in exchange for their art. They are not. Conservatives have no problem with private donations to the arts, but draw the line at government subsidies. Obama has kicked the arts twice. By these appointments and by his pendng tax policy which will reduce dramatically the amount donated to arts charities. Take away all the dough contributed by conservatives and you will soon eat your words.
xbainx-
"They should find a rich patron, like the old days. Paint a fresco for the church. Preferably not out of dung."
How far back in time do you wish the art world to return to? The Italian Renaissance? When the Catholic church controlled artistic expression? It's obvious you don't care enough about art to educate yourself in regards to it's vast achievements since those dark Carravogian days.
Please, let me enlighten you.
In 1935 FDR instated the Federal Art Project which lasted till 1943. During that time, which encompassed the depression, historians have noted that many of the best public art projects were created because of the grants given by the government to individual artist. Also, a primary focus was art education. Artist were payed to hold workshops and teach in art in public schools.
We are still appreciating much of the effects of this project today. Current art lovers like myself are hoping that in our countries own depression like era, Obama's choice for the art czar will be an educated enough individual to know art history and know about programs for art such a as the 1935 Federal Art Project.
Nobody is asking for a hand out and the degenerate stereotype and disdain you insinuate in your post towards artists saddens me.
Yes, art is hard work. But it certainly doesn't deserve a paycheck in the form of a grant from the government. Get it out there in the public eye if it is good someone will buy it. duh.
And another thing, just my two cents, I wouldn't mind going and spray painting all over the works of Kaws and Fairey. b as tards.
"Crackpots"? 97% of government arts funding goes to mainstream organizations such as orchestras, museums, and other classical arts presenters.
It's called a culture. You either have one or you don't. What America has is a culture for the rich, by the rich, and of the rich. Yet Americans from the lower classes insist this is not true. They buy the rhetoric of "the dream." Even when they're kicked out on the street, or lose their jobs and their homes, what Americans buy is that their dream is for everyone. It is a disingenuous illusion. It is incredulous. Supporting art is not on their agenda. At Cinematheque, we get our funding from artists who have died from AIDS. There have been a lot of them. So I am not compelled to beg with my tin cup out like I used to. I do not have to sign a loyalty statement. A bad idea. The kinds of art the American government is comfortable with funding is safe, conservative, and always the status quo. One wishes there were more Mapplethorpes to fund. They're out there but they don't get funding. Not unless they knit or can contribute quaint quilts for an exhibition of an American quaint quilting and historical pajama show at the National Quaint Quilting and Historical Silliness Museum for the Bed and Bathroom Arts. It's gotta be safe, it can't be controversial; and Jesse Helms has to approve. Even though he's dead. You still need his approval. The reality is that ART scares Americans into hysteria. When they see it, they run thumping their Bibles. Personally, I was exiled from America for making it. You can only do so covertly. They did me a huge favor. The American Art Taliban cannot be confronted. If your art is not acceptable to them, they will go after you with the enthusiasm of a witch-hunt. The Arrogant Book Mafia only supports whatever the Art Taliban approves of. They're not exactly what you would call open-minded. You have to be out of your mind to make art in the States. That or your life is spent bowing and scraping at the feet of the aristocracy. Starvation is easier. America doesn't have art or the ability to recognize it. What Yanks have is a culture war. A culture war to end all wars. War is their specialty. Not art. What Americans have is a culture war that defines them as the species that worships the wealthy. Their Bibles are for thumping. Not for reading and certainly not for understanding context. What Americans have is a culture war that promotes celebrity, class, commercialism, the religion of let's all make a buck, and a monotonous picture of themselves. A photograph that is utterly devoid of nuance and can if necessary be used to sell soap. What America has is the kind of malevolent culture war they so richly deserve. What culture. What Americans support is a mythology of America. http://le-too.blogspot.com -- Tim Barrus, Amsterdam
When I think of how many electrons were used to write this story, I tremble.
We have a health crisis, an energy crisis, a crime crisis, and...oh yes, an economic crisis.
This story is so unimportant at ever level, I wonder if the entire Daily Beast staff is asleep at the switch. I for one don't come here to read an essay that questions whether or not a minor political appointee did or did not graduate from college.
Culture? Mainstream America has its own culture. While it is not my cup of tea, sports is more appealing than art. NASCAR, which I don't get, draws more than anything. Here is flyoverland we have a fabulous zoo with free admission. We have world class art and history museums, a top ten symphony and they are packed, but their numbers pale when it comes to baseball, football, NASCAR, etc. When the symphony tried to get a tax increase recently, the people spoke loudly. "We don't attend it and we don't want to pay for it. Why don't you subsidize my baseball tickets?" Average Americans are not censoring your work. They don't care about your work and they don't want to pay for it. Your version of "culture" must compete and right now it is losing.
Well, beauty still is in the eye of the beholder, and many of us see little beauty in what others call art in recent decades. Maybe some fresh faces on the political side will encourage a bit of a renaissance in the art world.
Art is an insuit institution that in part measures how civilized and cultured a society is. Without art a culture will fail. The government spends money on the military (part of the correction institution) it should also spend money on the art institution.
Second point: Conservatives are not anti art. What they are is always behind. They accept art that is historically old, simple or passe. To equate successful art to what is popular is ... well being conservative. Great art to a conservative is Norman Rockwell. After years of dissing Dali they now are saying he is OK.
There is so much of America that is already part of that failed culture. Of course there is always going to be bad art and good art, art that people who are against art funding can point to and say "See! Art IS a waste of money etc!" But with things like the NEA, fellowships usually go to artists that have serious merit and make work that you skeptics might actually like/learn something from. $50 million dollars is a pittance compared to the number of people in the arts world in the US. Stop getting your panties in a twist about something that is water under the bridge in a time when AIG gave out $90 million in bonuses to just a handful of people. Before you continue to rip on the art world, at least try to understand that most artists are not slackers looking for government handouts. They are people who believe that art can bring intelligent dialogue into an otherwise dumb-ed down culture that cares more about Lindsay Lohan skipping a court date than discussing the philosophical, emotional, social, and psychological questions & issues presented by good artwork. Art provides something you can't get anywhere else. If you think it is something that we can afford to lose, I feel sorry for you.
If there is one thing that will save this country, it is not "the arts." Sorry about that.
Thank you.
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