There is a petition to Barack Obama circulating online right now, with over 50,000 signatures, to appoint a secretary of the arts:

http://www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html

Never in the history of our nation has America had a presidential advisor on the subject of art and culture.  This fact places us in a dangerous minority, at least among western nations - especially when arts and culture is our nation's leading industry.

Especially when the arts is one of the few economic sectors blooming right now.

My passion for this project is not economically motivated, of course - but our current economic reality is a clear sign of how important arts and culture are to America.  Certainly, there are those who refuse to believe it.  Right now, those people are losing money and spending what they have on DVD's and satellite radio.

For the rest of us, the importance of supporting America's creative community, especially given our profound global impact, is obvious. 

Naturally, any appointment in this field will reflect the artistic values of the president in office, but that's why we vote.  If a president winds up issuing grants for the development of nationalistic jingoes, or for kitch paintings of the twin towers against a backdrop of the American flag, it would still be a big step forward.

I trust Barack Obama to do better than that.  Please join me in petitioning him to appoint America's first Secretary of the Arts:

http://www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html