From Dancer Universe . . .

Barack Obama:

  • Supports increasing funding for the NEA from $125 million to $175 million annually
  • Wants to expand both public and private partnerships between schools and arts organizations
  • Supports the creation of an “Artists Corp” to work in low-income communities
  • Promotes cultural diplomacy (send performance artists abroad)
  • Welcomes international artists into the US
  • Wants to provide health care to artists and their family members
  • Supports ensuring tax fairness for artists
  • As Senator, co-sponsored and passed legislation to honor the legacy of Katherine Dunham
  • Supports the Artists-Museum Partnership Act, which allows artists to deduct the fair market value of their work when making charitable contributions

Hillary Clinton:

  • Supports the NEA’s mission and increasing Federal funding for the NEA
  • Wants to reform No Child Left Behind to strengthen funding for arts education in public schools
  • Believes in international cultural exchange as a form of diplomacy
  • Supporter of Public Broadcasting
  • Created the Finger Lakes Trading Cooperative, an initiative that links local businesses with artisans in upstate NY
  • Helped to develop affordable living/work space for artists in Buffalo
  • Entered a statement to the Senate Congressional Record in support of creative arts therapies
  • As First Lady, was the honorary chair of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities

John McCain:

  • In 1999, voted NO on funding for the National Endowment of the Arts
  • Does not support abolishing the NEA
  • Voted in favor of the Helms Amendment to withdraw Federal funding grants to art considered “obscene”
  • An honorary member of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, 1997-present
  • 2007, proposed a bill to protect Indian arts and crafts

Full story . . . .