The simple fact is that funding for arts education advocacy has been fractional. The state alliances have historically been funded on a marginal basis and local advocacy has for the most part been nascent. Underdeveloped advocacy efforts and little funding to support anything better. That's arts education in 2011. Think good ideas for an engine, but little gas in the tank.The … [Read more...] about Real Funding for Advocacy: What Is Sorely Needed
policy
The First Roadblock to Arts Education Policy Improvement
"If we did it for the arts, we would have to do it for every subject."That's it. There you have it. That's the first roadblock pulled out of a hat to rationalize "why not."I have heard this particular roadblock deployed many times, including in response to the advocacy for a special form of assistance to help schools without any certified arts teachers locate and hire these … [Read more...] about The First Roadblock to Arts Education Policy Improvement
My Dinner with Merce and its Connection to Cultural Policy
I wanted to end this very hot. humid, and WET New York summer week by recalling a swell dinner I had once with Merce Cunningham and Laura Kuhn, Director of The Cage Trust.I won't recount what the obits and testaments said very well about Merce as a truly giant, emblematic figure of modern dance and creativity in American during the 20th and early 21st centuries. I have … [Read more...] about My Dinner with Merce and its Connection to Cultural Policy
What about an Arts Czar? What about a Federal Arts Policy? Hummm…
The "arts czar" idea is still buzzing about. Of course, the actor Kal Penn was appointed to the White House Office of Public Engagement, and we will have Rocco Landesman heading up the NEA, and Jim Leach heading up the NEH. But certainly, that's a far cry from what a number of people were lobbying for, which was a cabinet level position in the executive branch, replete with its … [Read more...] about What about an Arts Czar? What about a Federal Arts Policy? Hummm…