The arts have always been an important ingredient to the health of a nation, but we haven't gotten there yet.
In 1968 the Arts Council managed to get a grant from the treasury to buy up a lot of derelict touring theatres and put them back in the hands of the local authorities.
Taxpayers don't want their money spent more than a very, very slender amount on actual buying art or paying for concerts.
The arts need funding.
As an artist I have an even more abiding interest in the compact between the Arts and Government.
I love that President and Mrs. Obama are embracing the arts. I am so delighted.
Lillian Gish thought that there should be a cabinet position for the arts and I think she was right. I think she was right.
We need more theatres, more art and more culture in this country.
The average tax payer is not a big voluntary supporter of the arts. The only art that the average taxpayer buys voluntarily either has a picture of Bart Simpson on it or little suction cups on its feet so you can stick it onto a car window.
The arts are part of the fiber of American society and should get Federal support.
With my ministry of light, part of what I do is work on the California Alliance For Arts Education.
I think President Obama really does get the value of the arts.
