Q’s call for arts secretary gains momentum
Quincy’s call for a U.S. secretary of the arts has inspired an online petition. It was during his recent interview with John Schaefer on WNYC’s Soundcheck that Quincy let the words fly. “The next conversation I have with President [-elect Barack] Obama is to beg for a secretary of the arts,” he said.
During his travels Quincy has observed that people in other countries seem to have greater appreciation for American music than Americans. He hopes the creation of a secretary of the arts in the U.S. will help preserve American music and other U.S. arts and ensure that they remain a vital part of our schools’ curriculum.
One listener who heard Q’s call is Jaime Austria, who plays bass for the New York City Opera and the American Ballet Theatre Orchestra. Austria was directed to listen to a podcast of Quincy’s Soundcheck interview by a friend involved in the New York branch of El Sistema, the organization founded by recent Q Prize co-recipient Dr. José Antonio Abreu. Born in the Philippines, Austria immigrated to the U.S. where he attended the Manhattan School of Music. He has a deep love for American music, particularly jazz.
“As soon as I heard Quincy use the words that he would beg Obama for secretary of arts, I rushed to my computer and typed out a petition.” In fact, Austria admits that he was in such a rush he initially misspelled Obama’s first name and Schaefer’s last name. Nonetheless, word is spreading. As of this writing, the online petition — viewable here — has more than 1,000 signatures.
Austria is optimistic that this grassroots effort to mobilize like-minded individuals will make Quincy’s dream for a secretary of the arts a reality. Stay tuned.
ThanQs for this post.
And to Peter Weitzner, member of El Sistema-New York City, who alerted me to the WNYC interview.
PLEASE JOIN THE GROWING NUMBER OF SIGNERS:
http://www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html
my signature was 1159. on today
I believe that we need a Secretary of the Arts. I feel that would be an honor for someone to fill those shoes.
Maybe while he’s begging, he can explain why he waited to the 30th of October to Endorse Barack Obama!
“As soon as I heard Quincy use the words that he would beg Obama for secretary of arts, I rushed to my computer and typed out a petition.”
Thankfully, President-Elect Barack Obama can bury the hatchet.
Supposedly, one of his favorite books is
“A Team of Rivals.” And he has taken that spirit to heart by appointing Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.
Also, please take a look at this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/23/obama-proposes-team-of-ri_n_103243.html
I agree with Quincy, American Music is more appreciated in Europe, in fact I think the best bands at the moment come out of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA, so yes – elected President Obama get a arts secretary in!
Can you get this to Quincy:
Hey Quincy, we almost met at the Oscars 1996!
My name is Adriano Marletta (ADMA) and I’m a melodic singer-songwriter with funky edges.
A long time ago, in Autumn 95 I had a dream where I saw myself standing on the Empire State Building on new years eve.
This dream changed my life!
I was still working as a clerk in a boring job in Switzerland typing in Numbers.
So I woke up and I said to myself: “You haven’t been put on earth to type in numbers” and so I quit the job, put all the Demo Tapes of my then band in the suitcase and left on the 31st of December 1995 to New York, and I stood on the Empire State Building on new years eve.
I had a 3 Month visa and the plan was to knock on the door at Record companies. Which I did.
They said they liked my voice but the band hasn’t found their sound yet. (back then I was just the singer, I wasn’t writing the songs)
So after the NY Record Companies I went to LA doing the same thing: Knocking on the door of Record Companies.
One night me & my friend where watching TV and the programm was about tomorrows Academy Awards, so we watched it and afterwards I said to my friend: hey let’s try to sneak into the Oscars!
In fact the next Day – I remember exactly what I said to my friend after we visited Geffen Records in the morning, I said: “You will see I will sneak into the Academy Awards Ceremony and I will hand a Tape to Quentin Tarrantino!”
And believe it or not that’s exactly what happened, but I had 2 Demos with me and I was constantly waiting for you to get into the Bar (where I met Quentin) but you never turned up.
So I never gave that Demo to anyone…….
But now I am looking for a producer to finish what I started 3 years ago and so I remembered that Demo which I never gave you,
So that’s why I hope you will be able to take some time and listen to my songs on myspace.
I have started an Album 3 years ago and so far I have produced everything myself on Logic, (it’s about 65% finished) but I’m stuck.
I like pop songs with melodies with edges, but I like to arrange them in a unconventional way -, but yeah – I can’t see the forest for the trees anymore.
Check some of my songs (some are cheesy but still very real) and if you like them & if you, or if you know a producer that would be interested in collaborating let me know.
I know you are verrrry Busy, but thanks for your time
Ciao from the swiss-german/Italian with afro
ADMA
Adriano Marletta
PS: Smile & Love Your Neighbour
I was so thrilled to see Mr. Jones on the Tavis Smiley Show last night. What an interesting and inspiring person(aside from his musical genius). How true of Tavis to call him a Renaissance Man. A world-traveler and voracious reader. I would like to see my artist friend, Adisa Achaki, paint a tribute of Mr. Jones as he has of Ray Charles!
Qunicy Jones would make a great Secretary of the Arts. This would be wonderful for our country, particularly during these trying times.
American, African-American and Afro-Latin cultures are celebrated throughout the world. Thank you, Quincy, for suggesting that we finally acknowledge this cultural significance ourselves by asking President-elect Barack Obama to establish a cabinet-level position, Secretary of the Arts. “Now’s the time!”
I would very strongly recommend Quincy
Jones for Secretary of the Arts.
Quincy Jones is a legend in his on right and I highly recommend Quincy Jones for this position (Secretary of the Arts) if President Elect Barack Obama decides to create this position, Quincy would however have to take into consideration all media of arts, not just music. As a director of a non-profit organization we are feeling the crunch of the financial deficit – we need someone who can rally for us, so that our cultural institutions can continue to thrive and we aren’t closing our doors because we lack the support of the government. We want our children and children’s children to have to opportuntities of going to the theater, listening to different genres of music, exploring dance in different cultures, painting pictures that reflect this world in which we live and so on and so forth – the arts brings everything together so that we can let loose in all areas of the arts. Kindly submitted, Chinita J. Pointer – widow of the late Noel Pointer, violinist.
Join the Quincy Jones for Secretary of the Arts group on http://www.FaceBook.com
We support and applaud Quincy Jones’ efforts to create a U.S. Secretary of the Arts. During his interview with Wolf Blitzer of CNN on Inauguration Day, Quincy renewed his call to give the arts and humanities a Cabinet-level post in the Obama Administration and suggested the formation of an Advisory Committee to further this goal.
… and sign the Petition!
http://www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html
Over 200,000 signatures so far!
Hello,
I am an artist and an arts teacher. I just heard about this effort recently and have honestly been a bit torn by it. On one hand, I feel like I should support something that is intended to result in greater support for the arts. On the other hand, many relationships with government are a double edged sword and something in the back of my head is wondering if we in the arts community should be more careful about what we ask for.
The arts provide powerful modes of speech & expression which are very well lubricated by the first amendment and the arts already receive some government funding through the National Endowment for the Arts. So, I wonder what we might actually gain from such a government post in the hands of someone who would support the arts, but also what we could lose from someone who might want to use the arts to reinforce their political agenda.
For example, would Obama supporters have wanted to see what an unscrupulous Bush appointee could have done with such a post. Could a Bush Secretary of the Arts have provided an excuse for funneling more government funding into the hands of “Bush favored” organizations in the name of ‘The Arts’? Might Bush & Rove have found a way to use artistic outlets to subtly promote their brand of nationalism & patriotism over their opposition?
Proposing funding increases for The National Endowment for the Arts may be a more appropriate way to channel public funding towards the arts & arts education with reduced risk of political contamination. The NEA is chaired by presidential appointments and it’s funding is set by congress. Other than that, it is a relatively independent organization that has often been healthily out of step with politicians and the “moral majority” (which may be partly to blame for its current lack of funding).
For the moment I’m leaning a little towards believing the Arts might stay more healthy and vibrant by maintaining some distance from government rather than getting under the covers with whoever is in power. Then again, I haven’t heard or read any specifics for what this proposed position would entail and that could change my position. So, I’d be interested to hear more specifically what Secretary of Arts supporters are hoping this person would be able to accomplish. But remember, if such a post is created we have no guarantees about how the next president we don’t like will define the post.
Cheers,
John
I love the arts, but don’t belirve we need more government regulation.
We already subsidize arts throught PBS and it is mostly biased.
Cannot sign this petition because people need to step up and do their part without government interference.
“Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.” George Bernard Shaw.
As artists, and as children of influential artists, we support Quincy Jones’ efforts to create a U.S. Secretary of the Arts. During his interview with Wolf Blitzer of CNN on Inauguration Day, Quincy renewed his call to give the arts and humanities a Cabinet-level post in the Obama Administration and suggested the formation of an Advisory Committee to further this goal.
“Jones, who has been promoting the idea for at least 10 years by his count, said yesterday that he has specific responsibilities in mind for the office. He wants an education system that teaches the history and personalities of the arts, particularly music. “I have traveled all over the world all the time for 54 years. The people abroad know more about our culture than we do,” he said. “A month ago at my high school in Seattle, I asked a student if he knew who Louis Armstrong was. He said he had heard his name. I asked him about Duke Ellington and John Coltrane. He didn’t even know their names. That hurts me a lot,” Jones said. (From the Washington Post, Jan. 13, 2009.)
Here are our choices for Advisory Committee Members:
Music: Wynton Marsalis
Film: Steven Spielberg
Stage: Joanne Woodward
Spoken Word: Kanye West
Dance: Judith Jamison
Sports and Movement: Cheryl Lynne Rubbo
Museums: Annette de la Renta
Arts in Education: Deborah Santana
Dear Mr. “Q”
I would seriously explore the idea of having Deborah Santana as “The Arts in Education,” “Film Director,” Steven Spielberg and “Musical Composer,” Wynton Marsalis.
Sincerely,
Perry J.
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