The mood is different this year, perhaps even jubilant. The arts warriors remind ourselves that support for arts and arts education is bipartisan, but the Congress itself has shifted from a culture of somewhat suspicious meanness to one of more considered generosity, and that feels, if nothing else, innovative.
I am here with 35 college students, dancers all. It will be an exhausting day for them, but it is beginning with inspiring talks and performances, and I know from past years that, for some of them, today will change their lives. They will find their voices and their passion. Their feet will hurt and maybe even their heads, but they will understand how Congress works and why they have to vote. Some of them will have their futures swim into focus.
Dance Warriors, last year
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter just gave a rousing introduction to the Congressional Arts Breakfast. And received a standing ovation in return, in gratitude. Congresswoman Slaughter has been the mother of the Congressional Arts Caucus and has held it together, with a Republican partner (Chris Shays for the past few years.). She is eloquent and relentless on the value of creative enterprise.
Congressman John Lewis was up next. "Thank you for getting in the way", he said to Slaughter and Shays. He announced a new bill to provide a fair market tax deduction for artists who donate their own work. This issue has sat on the table for years; now that the Democrats are in charge, it has a life. Lewis thanked all of the attendees for speaking up and speaking out for the arts.
Cong. Norm Dicks is holding a hearing this morning, of the Interior sub-committee, on the arts. This is so new an idea that jaws are dropping all over the room. I will be reporting on that later.
Sheila Johnson, BET executive, was a music educator. She has come through the trenches and she sees the needs. She taught at a school for children with severe language and other challenges. "We realized we could reach so many of these children through the arts...We could reach a LOT of kids by working with both sides of the brain." She is an entrepreneur but also a philanthropist, and she wants to be a catalyst.
"It’s time for Congress to restore full funding the National Endowment for the Arts" says the National Council of Mayors. This year the President asked for a 4 million dollar increase for the National Endowment of the Arts, to 124 million. Think about that number. We will be asking for 176 million, "full funding", at least what was coming to te cultural sector in 1992, before the advent of the Culture Wars.
Cong. Betty McCollum (MN) was a leader for arts support in the 108th and 109th Congress and 2007 Congressional Arts Leadership Award. The Minnesota arts warriors are enthusiastic and grateful. She refers to art that is created in the wake of tragedy—music and sculpture, and theatre that just seems to appear.
UPDATE: Wynton Marsalis is holding the room spellbound with a story that links creativity, elegance, soul, civil rights, and human spirit. He is humming a tune for us that sends chills up and down the spine.
It is the culture of the United States that allowed us to end slavery, and will help us reach out to the world. "Democracy calls out that we are not an EMPIRE." he reminds us. "Have a great time, play music!"