I was wrong. I said the other day that Rocco Landesman’s testimony before Congress about the NEA budget on Tuesday would be “interesting.” That was my hope.
Instead, it was a total bore. Landesman not only said nothing, but what he did — closing most of the “American Masterpieces” program to find money for his “Our Town” initiative — will amount to nothing, too.
I can not attest to the efficacy of American Masterpieces, but at least its idea — bringing performances, visual art exhibitions, erc. to communities around the country — was a good one, especially for small communities that lack access to great art. “Our Town,” which is supposed to create local arts districts, isn’t. Or doesn’t seem to be — Landesman is supposed to provide details soon. It strikes me, so far, as too commercial. Although I agree that arts provide real jobs and create economic activity, I don’t think that’s what the NEA should be spending its small budget on.
Which is why I’m writing this morning — I had no intention to blog again until this afternoon/evening. But an email from NEA just arrived that seems like more movement in the wrong direction. To wit:
The National Endowment for the Arts announced today that Jason Schupbach will join the NEA as Director of Design at the end of May….
…Since 2008, Mr. Schupbach has held the first-in-the-nation position of Creative Economy Industry Director for the Massachusetts Office of Business Development where his accomplishments include coordinating the growth of new industry cluster groups, such as the Design Industry Group of Massachusetts (DIGMA), and launching a Design Excellence initiative, an effort to improve procurement processes in Massachusetts in order to build more sustainable and longer-lasting buildings and communities, and increase the number of designers being offered contracts….
Etc. That’s not the kind of art that needs bolstering. (Read the whole press release here.)
I’ve got nothing against Schupbach. But I don’t like the commercial drift, which is the direction the NEA is going.