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If you believe that past is present, and that severe cuts to school budgets, combined with cuts from private funders, would deal a terrible blow to arts education, well then, it's important to take a look at the education portion of the stimulus plan, which I hear is changing by the day.At the moment, it appears that the education portion of the package will help save arts and … [Read more...] about The Stimulus Plan and Arts Education

My friend Diane Ravitch, offers some advice for Arne Duncan in last week's Washington Post.No beating about the bush, Diane offers some straight up advice on what works and what doesn't, particularly in regards to NCLB and the USDOE.A refreshing opinion. Here's a little teaser: "You have a chance to make a historic difference by abolishing the No Child Left Behind legislation. … [Read more...] about Education Advice for Arne Duncan

It's a bit tough to profess ambivalence at best, skepticism at worst, when so many people are clamoring for the creation of a cabinet-level position for the arts. A Secretary of the Arts, or a Secretary of Arts and Culture, etc., along with a new Federal Department to match the position.Historically, the creation of a new executive department within the Cabinet is a very, very … [Read more...] about Secretary of the Arts?

On election day, I tapped Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring as my soundtrack for that moment.Today, without question, it's Woody Guthrie's This Land is Your Land. And, as it turns out Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen felt the same way, performing it at the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday.This was a song they taught us in grade school. The schools taught it along with America The … [Read more...] about The Soundtrack to My President Obama Moment

I am a Mac Geek. I even have a t-shirt to prove it. And, naturally, along with that territory goes my disdain for PCs.Yesterday at a workshop presented by Chamber Music America, I heard from a woman at Wellesley College about a group of female students who compose music, either using Apple's Garage Band, or having learned to compose using Apple's Garage Band.I know, many will … [Read more...] about Steve Jobs and Access to the Arts