I am well aware that there are more pressing issues in this presidential election; economics, environment, health care, etc. However, one issue that interests me is how our presidential candidates feel about arts funding. I recently found a website called ArtsVote that specifically highlights the Democratic and Republican platforms concerning the arts and arts education. The following is an excerpt from the Democratic fact sheet.
"To remain competitive in the global economy, America needs to reinvigorate the kind of creativity and innovation that has made this country great. To do so, we must nourish our childrens creative skills. In addition to giving our children the science and math skills they need to compete in the new global context, we should also encourage the ability to think creatively that comes from a meaningful arts education. Unfortunately, many school districts are cutting instructional time for art and music education. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that the arts should be a central part of effective teaching and learning. The Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts recently said “The purpose of arts education is not to produce more artists, though that is a byproduct. The real purpose of arts education is to create complete human beings capable of leading successful and productive lives in a free society.”
