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Obama Stiffs the Arts
Kareem Dale’s arts post, more a “mini-czar” than czar, surprised some people who served as arts advisers to Obama. “This came out of Valerie Jarrett’s shop, and I don’t know much about it,” said Margo Lion, the theater producer who co-chaired Obama’s Arts Policy Committee. Jarrett, one of Obama’s closest friends-advisers from Chicago, is senior adviser to the president, overseeing the Office of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs. “This is so Chicago,” said one cultural figure in the Windy City, shaking his head.
Lion says her panel didn’t write a job description for a White House post. Dale’s position will likely involve oversight of the NEA, the NEH, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, according to a source close the decision-making—but not institutions like the Smithsonian or the Library of Congress, which would be part of a real czar’s portfolio.
“It’s a start,” says William J. Ivey, who headed Obama’s arts and humanities transition team. “After looking at the situation, I personally felt that a czar or a Cabinet-level position would be a bridge too far. We have good jobs for people at NEA and NEH, and I’d be loath to throw a big official into the White House. A coordinating position is where to start.”
But how long, and under what circumstances, Dale will keep the job is unclear. An administration source implied that Dale would relinquish the arts post at some point, saying the situation would be clarified in “weeks, rather than months.”
This source declined to say why, if the post was only temporary, it was made at all.
Meanwhile, at the NEH, Bernard has been appointed to the post of director of White House and congressional affairs—a.k.a. liaison to the White House—an even stranger fit. Co-founder of B & G Associates in Los Angeles, a political fund-raising and strategic-planning firm, he raised millions of dollars for the Obama campaign with his partner, Rufus Gifford, the “G” in B & G.
Gifford was recently named finance director of the Democratic National Committee; Bernard was a superdelegate to the Democratic Convention. The pair cuts a wide path through L.A., and on March 10, the Washington Post named them “leading candidates for Washington’s new same-sex power couple.”
B & G’s website says Bernard worked in real estate and cable television before getting into politics. He also did campaign work for President Clinton, who rewarded him with an appointment to the presidential advisory committee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and is involved with social-justice organizations. As for connections to the humanities? Zip.
The website also says that “Jeremy holds a bachelor’s degree from Hunter College in New York.” But a Hunter spokeswoman, Meredith Helpern, said “He did not graduate from Hunter,” though he did attend. She declined to provide any further information.
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xbainx
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.
flyoverland
Is the telepromoter considered art?
picopallasi
This article should not have been needed. Arts Czar? haha. man.
taranto
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!
xbainx
Gosh I do love Republican humor. Original and clever, with just a touch of talking points.
PeorgieTirebiter
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.
PeorgieTirebiter
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.
buffgbob
Clearly, the thing to do is rescind the 50 million we are giving the arts now and take away these superfluous art positions.
jamdive
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!
buendia100
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".
Ritarita
@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.
dewhastme
the best artists
are struggling artists
toughen yourselves
and create something
We value.
rowland
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.
jeffsalzberg
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.
flyoverland
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.
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