Quincy Jones's call for Obama to establish a Secretary of Culture

[MsMo]

I think "someone special" should be considered for a role in something like this...IF he wants to. I know he doesn't like politics, however, he certainly has a lot to offer to a project or cabinet of this type.

By Jacqueline Trescott
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 14, 2009

A call for President-elect Barack Obama to give the arts and humanities a Cabinet-level post -- perhaps even create a secretary of culture -- is gaining momentum.

By yesterday, 76,000 (161509 now) people had signed an online petition, started by two New York musicians who were inspired by producer Quincy Jones.

Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. In a press release, Jones says, “While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. We in the arts need this and the country needs the arts--now more than ever. Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues.” http://www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html

In a radio interview in November, Jones said the country needed a minister of culture, like France, Germany or Finland has. And he said he would "beg" Obama to establish the post...

Read full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/13/AR2009011303264.html

Related articles:

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdai...-lobbies-obama-for-secretary-of-culture-post/

http://www.quincyjones.com/

 

[arXter]

thanks for posting this, and it's an interesting idea for a country with great cultural influences, although in desperate economical times, opening up a new ministry is the last thing the US needs.

but ideally, Q himself would be a very fitting ambassador.