CULTURE CZAR? YEA

William R. Ferris (former NEH Chair) in the New York Times:

“Over the years, America has developed an impressive array of federal cultural programs—in addition to the endowments for the arts and the humanities. These include the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, NPR, PBS and the Smithsonian Institution. Each of these organizations has helped preserve our nation’s rich folklore—its music, stories and traditional arts—as a uniquely powerful voice for our culture.

But as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities from 1997 to 2001, I learned firsthand that these institutions, though united by a shared goal, can sometimes run into conflict with one another. There were bureaucratic tangles, overlaps and missteps that, with foresight, could have been avoided. Which is why I believe the president should create a cabinet-level position—a secretary of culture—to provide more cohesive leadership for these impressive programs and to assure that they receive the recognition and financing they deserve.” Read More.