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October is National Arts and Humanities month. Yes, it’s hard to focus on that while the world is on fire, but here’s a thread on the important role arts and culture played in prior administrations and a discussion about its total absence in the Trump White House.
To my knowledge, in the time that Donald Trump has been president, the White House has not hosted a single cultural event. No poetry readings or dance recitals. No concerts, no acting workshops, no children’s talent shows. Nothing.
Donald Trump skipped the Kennedy Center Honors and never even scheduled National Arts and Humanities Medal ceremonies like prior administrations.
The budget proposed by the Trump White House eliminated funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Service. Fortunately, Congress didn’t agree to the proposed cuts this year.
As a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities during the Obama administration I saw firsthand the vital role the Arts and the Humanities played both in the Obama White House and in American society.
Through the @TurnaroundArts program I saw children’s lives changed because of the incredible opportunities that program afforded them. Same for the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards which the Trump administration has sadly and foolishly eliminated.
There is absolutely no joy in this White House and it is so incredibly sad to see. It’s an administration that lurches from one crisis to the next without any regard for the impact their disfunction has on the American public.
While the headlines are appropriately focused on the historic corruption of this president and his staff, the disdain shown by this administration to the Arts and Humanities is real and it matters.
Here are some photos of the way things used to be during the Obama administration. 
And who can forget this incredible moment where @Lin_Manuel performed the original rap song that gave birth to 'Hamilton' at an evening of poetry, music and spoken hosted at the White House.
Support for the Arts and Humanities shouldn’t be partisan. The National Endowment for the Arts was founded by Democratic President Lyndon Johnson and The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities was created by Republican President Ronald Reagan.
If you’re able, please consider supporting Arts Education by helping programs in your community or by contributing to organizations like @TurnaroundArts and @Americans4Arts. We need them now more than ever.
