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OBAMA NATIONAL ARTS POLICY COMMITTEE

A MESSAGE FROM GEORGE STEVENS, JR. AND MARGO LION Co-Chairs of the Obama Arts Policy Committee

We want to urge all of our friends in the arts community to help us ensure that on November 4th is elected President of the .

Barack Obama has demonstrated the creative imagination and the political acumen to bring forth the kind of change our country needs. We have watched him over the past year and a half show thoughtful judgment and inspire confidence in these especially difficult times. And we are certain his election will send a signal to people everywhere that America is moving forward in a way that respects the differences between us while honoring our shared hopes for the future.

We were thrilled when Barack Obama asked us in May of 2007 to chair the Arts Policy Committee for his campaign. His decision to create such a committee was unique in this election cycle. The committee engaged artists, cultural leaders, art educators and arts advocates to explore and better understand the major issues confronting the arts in this country, and to advise Barack as he developed his policy positions.

We are therefore pleased to be able to present the attached “Arts Policy Fact Sheet” which provides a summary of the actions needed in order to significantly advance the arts in America, and to ensure the arts and creative resources of this country play a role in addressing the many pressing problems and opportunities we face as a nation.

We encourage you to circulate the Obama Arts Policy Fact Sheet to all of your colleagues and friends. This is our chance to have Washington hear our message and include support of the arts in a new vision for the future.

Finally, donations to compete in the battleground states will have a decisive role in the outcome -- so please give, and ask your friends to contribute whatever they can in the last month of this historic journey.

To find out more about how to get involved with the campaign in your area, please visit www.BarackObama.com

We also invite you to join the official online group of arts advocates who support Obama at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/CreativeAmericaforObama BARACK OBAMA: A CHAMPION FOR THE ARTS Our nation’s creativity has filled the world’s libraries, museums, recital halls, movie houses, and marketplaces with works of genius. The arts embody the American spirit of self-definition. As the author of two best-selling books –Dreams from My Fatherand The Audacity of Hope – Barack Obama uniquely appreciates the role and value of creative expression.

A PLATFORM IN SUPPORT OF THE ARTS Reinvest in Arts Education: 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 children’s 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 believes 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.” To support greater arts education, Obama will:

Expand Public/Private Partnerships supports increased funding for the NEA, Provide Health Care to Artists: Between Schools and Arts the support of which enriches schools and Finding affordable health coverage has often Organizations: Barack Obama will neighborhoods all across the nation and been one of the most vexing obstacles for increase resources for the U.S. Department helps to promote the economic development artists and those in the creative community. of Education’s Arts Education Model of countless communities. Since many artists work independently Development and Dissemination Grants, or have non-traditional employment which develop public/private partnerships Promote Cultural Diplomacy: relationships, employer-based coverage between schools and arts organizations. American artists, performers and thinkers is unavailable and individual policies are Obama will also engage the foundation and – representing our values and ideals – can financially out of reach. Barack Obama’s corporate community to increase support for inspire people both at home and all over plan will provide all Americans with quality, public/private partnerships. the world. Through efforts like that of the affordable health care. His plan includes the United States Information Agency, America’s creation of a new public program that will Create an Artist Corps: Barack Obama cultural leaders were deployed around allow individuals and small businesses to buy supports the creation of an “Artists Corps” of the world during the Cold War as artistic affordable health care similar to that available young artists trained to work in low-income ambassadors and helped win the war of ideas to federal employees. His plan also creates schools and their communities. Studies in by demonstrating to the world the promise a National Health Insurance Exchange to have demonstrated that test scores of America. Artists can be utilized again to reform the private insurance market and improved faster for students enrolled in help us win the war of ideas against Islamic allow Americans to enroll in participating low-income schools that link arts across extremism. Unfortunately, our resources for private plans, which would have to provide the curriculum than scores for students in cultural diplomacy are at their lowest level in comprehensive benefits, issue every applicant schools lacking such programs. a decade. Barack Obama will work to reverse a policy, and charge fair and stable premiums. this trend and improve and expand public- For those who still cannot afford coverage, Publicly Champion the Importance private partnerships to expand cultural and the government will provide a subsidy. His of Arts Education: As president, arts exchanges throughout the world. health plan will lower costs for the typical Barack Obama will use the bully pulpit American family by up to $2,500 per year. and the example he will set in the White Attract Foreign Talent: The flipside House to promote the importance of arts to promoting American arts and culture Ensure Tax Fairness for Artists: and arts education in America. Not only is abroad is welcoming members of the foreign Barack Obama supports the Artist-Museum arts education indispensable for success in arts community to America. Opening Partnership Act, introduced by Senator a rapidly changing, high skill, information America’s doors to students and professional Patrick Leahy (D-VT). The Act amends the economy, but studies show that arts artists provides the kind of two-way cultural Internal Revenue Code to allow artists to education raises test scores in other subject understanding that can break down the deduct the fair market value of their work, areas as well. barriers that feed hatred and fear. As America rather than just the costs of the materials, tightened visa restrictions after 9/11, the when they make charitable contributions. Support Increased Funding world’s most talented students and artists, for the NEA: Over the last 15 years, who used to come here, went elsewhere. government funding for the National Barack Obama will streamline the visa Endowment for the Arts has been slashed process to return America to its rightful place from $175 million annually in 1992 as the world’s top destination for artists and to $125 million today. Barack Obama art students. OBAMA NATIONAL ARTS POLICY COMMITTEE

George Stevens, Jr. Cathy Crain Wendy Goldberg WNBA Washington Mystics; Van McLeod Superfly Productions; Festival and Arts Policy Committee President, Cincinnati Opera Communications executive; Global Ambassador, CARE; Commissioner, Department of Event Operations Manager for Co-Chair Board of Trustees; Board Member, contemporary art collector Member, VH1 Save the Music Cultural Resources, State of New Bonnaroo, Vegoose, Writer, Director; Producer; Cincinnati Fine Arts Fund; Foundation Board of Directors; Hampshire former Vice President Investments Scott Goodstein Board member, Americans for Mary Schmidt Campbell Founder of the American Film Dean, Tisch School of the Arts, Institute and Chairman, Charitable External Online Director, Obama the Arts Sondra Myers Endowments National City Bank for America Senior Fellow for International, New York University; Chair, New Meghan Styles Jones Civic and Cultural Projects, York State Council on the Arts Margo Lion Producer, Eastwind Theatre Arts Policy Committee Alexander D. Crary University of Scranton; former Former Executive Director of the President Emerita of The Museum Company; Chair, Young Special Assistant to the Chairman, Thomas Schumacher Co-Chair Civitella Ranieri Foundation; of (MoMA), Benefactors of Americans for National Endowment for the Producer and President, Disney Broadway Producer, Margo Lion, Chairman of MoMA International the Arts Theatrical Productions Ltd.; Adjunct Professor, Tisch former chief of staff, National Humanities; Cultural Advisor to Endowment for the Arts Council; Chairman, Mayor’s PA Governor Robert P. Casey; School of the Arts, New York Cultural Affairs Advisory Anne Katz Marc A. Scorca University president, National Federation of Kareem Dale Commission, City of New York; Executive Director, Arts State Humanities Councils; Chair, National Arts Service President, Board of Directors, Founder and Trustee, Studio Wisconsin; Chair, State Arts PA Humanities Council; founding Organization Leader Sonia Tower Black Ensemble Theatre; Principal, in a School; Boards: The Frick Action Network of Americans for president, Citizens for the Arts, Arts Policy Committee The Dale Law Group Collection, The Foundation the Arts Pennsylvania Jan Selman Co-Convener for Contemporary Arts, P.S. 1 Arts Advocate, Immediate Past Arts Management Advisor, Gordon J. Davis Contemporary Art Center, and Jonathan Katz Charles Newell Chairman Georgia Council for Ovation TV; former Vice Founding Chairman, Jazz at Socrates Park; Honorary National Association Chief Artistic Director, Court Theatre, the Arts, Southern Arts Federation President, Americans for the Arts; Lincoln Center; former President, Trustee, The Museum Executive Officer Chicago Board Member, State Captain, former Municipal Arts Agency Lincoln Center; Co-Founder of Art, Independent Curators Americans for the Arts Director, City of Ventura; former Conservancy; International and the Museum of Jordan Kerner Margo Oberman Arts Program Officer, Community Board member Studio Museum Contemporary Art, Cleveland Dean, School of Filmmaking, Past President of the Chapters Teka Selman Foundation in Harlem; Partner, Dewey & UNC School of the Executive Board of Lyric Opera of Partner, Branch Gallery and writer Leboeuf LLP Marj Halperin Arts; motion picture producer, Chicago, Member of the Woman’s Michael C. Dorf Communications management Kerner Entertainment Board, Chicago Symphony Jonathan Sheffer Arts Policy Committee Melissa Dean consultant; former President & Orchestra Composer and Conductor; Board Co-Convener Artist, teacher and graphic CEO, League of Chicago Theatres Steve Lavine member, VH1 Save The Music Partner, Adducci, Dorf, Lehner, designer President, Institute of Michael Oberman Foundation; NY City Council Mitchell & Blankenship, PC.; the Arts Member of the Board, Ryan Speaker Appointee to the Board of Adjunct Full Professor, School Diana Denley Former CEO, Hanes Companies; Center Lyric Opera of Chicago; Lincoln Center of the ; Theatre Director, Producer, Actor, Boards: Kennedy Center, Leslie Lee CEO and Chairman, Omeda, Inc. Council Member, Illinois Founder & Artistic Director Smithsonian American Art Obie-winning and Tony- Virginia Shore Humanities Council Shakespeare Globe Centre Museum, Business Committee nominated playwright; instructor Sara Paretsky Chief Curator, Art in Embassies for the Arts, American Symphony in dramatic writing, New York Novelist, Essayist, Winner of Program, Department of State Jennifer Ahn Orchestra League, UNCSA, University Cartier Diamond Dagger; ACLU Managing Director, The Film Aaron P. Dworkin Winterthur Museum, Arena Stage; Harry Kalven award for Free Joan Small Foundation Founder & President, The Sphinx a founder, National Endowment Kenny Leon Expression Retired First Deputy Organization; 2005 MacArthur for the Arts, Americans for the Film and Broadway Director; Commissioner, Chicago Dept. of Peggy Amsterdam Fellow; 2005 National Governors Arts; NEA Chairman’s Award Founding Artistic Director, True Kal Penn Cultural Affairs; former Board President of the Greater Award; Violinist & Author; Board (1966, 2005), Natl. Govs. Arts Colors Theater Company Film and television actor; Adjunct member, Americans for the Arts; Philadelphia Cultural Alliance Member of Walnut Hill School, (1982); Natl. Medal of Arts Lecturer in Cinema Studies/ former Trustee, Art Institute of Artserve Michigan; Advisory (1991); Author Sarah Elizabeth Lewis Sociology/Asian American Chicago Arnold Aprill Board, Avery Fisher Artist Critic, ; Former Studies, University of Pennsylvania Founding and Creative Director, Program Joan Harris Assistant Curator, Museum of Ken Solomon Chicago Arts Partnerships in Chairman, Irving Harris Modern Art Chairman, Ovation TV; former Education Teri J. Edelstein Foundation; Trustee, Chicago Director: Cabaret, Sweeny Todd, President, Universal Studios Principal, Teri J. Edelstein Symphony; Trustee, Juilliard Caren Lobo Evita; Trustee, National Council Television Anne Ashmore-Hudson, Ph.D. Associates Museum Strategies; School; Trustee, Chairman, Harris Founding Board member, of the Arts, NEA; Received Chair, DC Commission on The museum policy consultant; author; Theater for Music and Dance; FORUM 2008. Member, board from Robert Storr Arts and Humanities former deputy director The Art of trustees, Florida Humanities President Clinton; 21 Tony Dean, School of Art, Yale Life Trustee, Aspen Music Festival University Institute of Chicago, former & School; Founder, Cultural Council. Awards Shawnee Barton director Mount Holyoke College Policy Center, Harris School for Visual Artist, Teacher; Arts Art Museum Sherron Long Nicole Vandenberg Public Policy Studies, University President and founder, Creating Nick Rabkin Principal, Vandenberg Advocate; Facilitator, Arts & of Chicago Former Executive Director, Center Creative Industries for Obama Peter Ellenstein Executive Options Inc. for Arts Policy, Columbia College Communications Artistic Director, William Inge Stefan Haves Chicago; Vice President, Arts Andre Bishop Center for the Arts; extensive Dan Lurie and Business Council of Chicago; Nicola Vassell Director of Theatre, & Cirque, & Board Member, Chicago Music Director, Deitch Projects; Young Artistic Director, Lincoln Center performing arts experience in Cinema; Stefinity Entertainment, Former Deputy Commissioner of Theater creation and management Commission; President, Board Cultural Affairs, City of Chicago Benefactors Steering Committee, Inc. of Directors, Walkabout Theater Americans for the Arts Moe Brooker Alexander Ewing James Hayes Company Lawrence L. Reger Visual artist, educator; Professor, Michael Verruto Former Chancellor of North Partner, Hayes Lorenzen Lawyers President, Heritage Preservation; Vice Chair, Americans for the Arts Chair, Basics Department, Moore Carolina School of the Arts PLC; Board Member, Iowa Arts Anne Luzzatto previously served as CEO, College of Art and Design; Arts Advocate; Former Attorney; American Association of Board of Directors; Philadelphia Council (2007-2010); Members Former Vice President, Council Arts Leader; former Public Art Chair of the Philadelphia Art Alan Fletcher Council of University of Iowa Museums, and as general counsel, Commission; taught: Parson President and CEO, Aspen Music on Foreign Relations; Assistant and director of planning and Chair, Arts and Sciences Council, Museum of Art, Past President US Trade Representative; Special Charlotte-Mecklenburg; Principal, School of Design, NY, Cleveland Festival and School; former head (2004-2006) and Board Member; management at the National Institute of Art, Pennsylvania of the school of music, Carnegie Assistant to the President and Endowment for the Arts; member, HPI Capital, LLC Board of Directors, Iowa City Deputy White House Press Academy of the Fine Arts Mellon; former Provost and Senior Historic Preservation Commission Cultural Property Advisory Vice President, New England Secretary, National Security Committee, Department of State, Marc Vogl Council (1993-1998) Program Officer, William and Ralph Bryan Conservatory Joel Henning 1996 - 2000 Flora Hewlett Foundation; former Chairman of the Board, La Jolla Columnist, Leisure & Arts Playhouse; Member, National Robert L. Lynch member, San Francisco Arts Task Christine Forester Page, The Wall Street Journal; President and CEO, Americans Milton Rhodes Force; Co-Founder, Kennedy Council for the American Theater; Business/Marketing Consultant Chairman, Illinois Governor’s President and CEO, The Arts Broadway producer, Latitude Link for the Arts School of Government for Obama Commission on Financing the Council of Winston-Salem and Chapter Julia Fryett Arts; Former Member, Illinois Forysth County; former President Isaac Butler Curator, Mugrabi Collection; Kristen Madsen Arts Council; Lawyer; Law Firm Senior Vice President, The and CEO, American Council for Andrea Fellows Walters Freelance Theatre Director and Steering Committee, Young Management Consultant the Arts (now American for the Producer Benefactors of Americans for the Grammy Foundation and Music Arts Administrator; librettist; Arts); former General Manager, Co-chair New Mexico Alliance Arts; Founder, Student Advocates Rodney Holman Cares Foundation; former Spoleto Festival USA Michael Chabon for the Arts, Duke University President, California Assembly for Arts Education; Albuquerque Executive Director, Poets in Public of Local Arts Agencies; former Museum Foundation, Artedge Author; Screenwriter; Columnist; Service, NY, NY Rebecca Robertson Short Story Writer; 2001 Pulitzer Kiff Gallagher Program Director, Utah Arts President & CEO, Park Avenue Committee Prize for Fiction Founder and CEO, Music William Ivey Council, LA, CA Armory National Service Initiative Director, The Curb Center for Judith Weitz and MusicianCorps; Singer- Elaine Mariner Former Senior Executive Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy, Executive Director, Colorado Barbara S. Robinson Associate, CommunicationWorks; Painter, Photographer, Printmaker songwriter; Fmr President of Vanderbilt University; Former Chair, Arts Midwest; Board of Social Venture Network; Fmr Council on the Arts consultant, President’s Committee Chairman, National Endowment Directors, Americans for the on the Arts and Humanities, Richard J. Cohen legislative staff, White House for the Arts Arts; Chair Emeritus, Ohio Arts MN State Senator; Chair of Senate Office of National Service; Fmr Council; former chair, National Clinton Administration Finance Committee, Founder of Program Officer, Corporation for Artistic Director, Jazz at Lincoln Sharon Jensen Center Assembly of State Arts Agencies State Senate Pro-Choice Caucus National Service Executive Director of the Alliance Damian Woetzel and Legislative Arts Caucus; Principal Dancer, New York for Inclusion in the Arts; Member Judith Rubin City Ballet (Ret.); Harvard Task former Public Defender Patty Gerstenblith of the Board of The Actors Center, Robert Martin Chairman of the Board, Professor, DePaul University Executive Director, Lensic Force on the Arts; Director, Vail ; Member, Advisory Performing Arts Center, Santa Fe Playwrights Horizons; Member, International Dance Festival Curt Columbus College of Law; Director of the Board of Deaf West Theatre, Los New York State Council on the Artistic Director, Trinity Center for Art, Museum and Angeles Arts Repertory Company; former Cultural Heritage Law Nancy McCullough Patricia York Associate Artistic Director, Sheila Johnson Principal, Law Offices of Nancy Tom Russell International Fine Art Steppenwolf L. McCullough; Board Member, Photographer; author; lecturer CEO, Salamander Hospitality; California Lawyers for the Arts National Promotions Director;

*** Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only. Members of this group are participating as individuals, and the views expressed in this letter and attached policy document in no way express those of their affiliated organizations or institutions. Conor Oberst Sarah Silverman Kehinde Wiley composer singer, songwriter actor, comedienne visual artist Jack O’Brien Vanessa Williams visual artist theatre director composer, lyricist actor Larry Keigwin Keith Sonnier Terry Winters dancer visual artist visual artist visual artist Jon Kessler David Parsons Steven Spielberg Damian Woetzel visual artist choreographer film director arts executive, dancer James Lapine Kal Penn George Steel George C. Wolfe playwright, director actor arts administrator, theater and film conductor director, playwright Kenny Leon theatre director musician George Stevens, Jr. Christopher Wool director, author, visual artist Glenn Ligon Zac Posen playwright visual artist designer Michael York The following is a listing of visual, performing, and Ethan Stiefel actor, author Margo Lion Darryl Pottorf dancer literary artists who believe in and support Barack theatre producer visual artist David Zippel Joss Stone lyricist Obama’s message of hope, and are willing to endorse Alan Pou musician visual artist producer, director Robert Zemickis his candidacy for President of the United States. Tracy Straus film director John Lithgow Hal Prince arts educator actor director, producer Pinchas Zukerman Susan Stroman musician Mark Adamo Michael Chabon Robert Longo director, choreographer composer, librettist author composer visual artist visual artist Eugenia Zukerman Wendy Sutter musician, journalist Jessica Alba Martha Clarke Savion Glover Rebecca Luker Bonnie Raitt musician actor choreographer dancer actor musician Death Cab for Cutie: Philip Taaffe Ben Gibbard Jane Alexander Francesco Clemente Osvaldo Golijov John Lyons Patricia Resnick visual artist actor, arts administrator visual artist composer film producer author Chris Walla Jackie Taylor Nick Harmer Britt Allcroft Chuck Close April Gornik Wynton Marsalis Alexis Rockman theatre director, actor Jason McGerr author, director, visual artist visual artist musician visual artist musicians producer Hank Willis Barbara Cook Alicia Graf Kathleen Marshall James Rosenquist Thomas My Morning Jacket: Paul Auster singer dancer director, choreographer visual artist visual artist author Jim James John Corigliano Joel Grey Marlee Matlin Sarah Ruhl Rasta Thomas Tom Blankenship Joan Baez composer actor actor playwright dancer Patrick Hallahan singer, activist David Crosby John Guare Carl Broemel Marlene McCarty Ed Ruscha Michael Tilson Bo Koster musician playwright visual artist visual artist visual artist Thomas musicians conductor, composer Michael A.R. Gurney Elizabeth McGovern Tom Rush A. Scott Berg Cunningham playwright actor musician OK Go: author Mickalene Thomas Damian Kulash author visual artist David Hammons Julie Mehretu Matthew Rushing Tim Nordwind Ashley Bickerton E.L. Doctorow visual artist visual artist dancer Dan Konopka visual artist author Richard Tuttle Sheldon Harnick visual artist Andy Ross Paul “DJ Spooky” David Salle musicians Andre Bishop Leonardo Drew composer, lyricist visual artist theatre director, Miller Alfred Uhry visual artist musician playwright, screenwriter producer Kim Hastreiter Kenny Scharf Pearl Jam: author Christopher John Cameron visual artist Eddie Vedder Christine Vachon Stone Gossard visual artist Durang Phillip Seymour Mitchell film producer playwright film director, Dana Schutz Jeff Ament Hoffman screenwriter visual artist Ashley Bouder actor Mike McCready dancer Todd Eberle visual artist photographer Michael Scoggins Matt Cameron Jerry Mitchell musicians Jenny Holzer director, choreographer visual artist visual artist Ben Vereen visual artist Mitch Epstein actor visual artist Isaac Mizrahi Martin Scorsese REM: Siri Hustvedt designer film director Michael Stipe Jackson Browne author musician William Finn visual artist Peter Buck composer/lyricist Toni Morrison visual artist Mike Mills Doug Hughes writer Joy Bryant theatre director Nari Ward musicians actor Eric Fischl visual artist visual artist Joel Shapiro Brian Keith Gillian Murphy visual artist Sonic Youth: Carol Burnett dancer Heather Watts Thurston Moore actor, comedienne Jackson arts educator architect author Wangechi Mutu Jonathan Sheffer Kim Gordon Danny Burstein visual artist composer, conductor Sigourney Weaver musicians actor Gina Gershon Marc Jacobs actor performing artist designer Graham Nash Keith Carradine musician visual artist Wendy Whelan actor, musician Sam Gilliam Erica Jong dancer visual artist author Marsha Norman Amy Sillman author visual artist STATEMENT BY MICHAEL CHABON

The Obama Arts Policy Committee asked committee member and author, Michael Chabon, to describe the critical importance of the arts at this moment of remarkable opportunity and challenge in our nation’s history.

Every grand American accomplishment, every innovation that has benefited and enriched our lives, every lasting social transformation, every moment of profound insight any American visionary ever had into a way out of despair, loneliness, fear and violence—everything that has from the start made America the world capital of hope, has been the fruit of the creative imagination, of the ability to reach beyond received ideas and ready-made answers to some new place, some new way of seeing or hearing or moving through the world. Breathtaking solutions, revolutionary inventions, the road through to freedom, reform and change: never in the history of this country have these emerged as pat answers given to us by our institutions, by our government, by our leaders. We have been obliged—to employ Dr. King’s powerful verb—to dream them up for ourselves.

America’s artists are the guardians of the spirit of questioning, of innovation, of reaching across the barriers that fence us off from our neighbors, from our allies and adversaries, from the six billion other people with whom we share this dark and dazzling world. Art increases the sense of our common humanity. The imagination of the artist is, therefore, a profoundly moral imagination: the easier it is for you to imagine walking in someone else’s shoes, the more difficult it then becomes to do that person harm. If you want to make a torturer, first kill his imagination. If you want to create a nation that will stand by and allow torture to be practiced in its name, then go ahead and kill its imagination, too. You could start by cutting school funding for art, music, creative writing and the performing arts.

Our children need training and encouragement and support—they need rehearsal space and tempera paint and bass violins, teachers and tap-shoes; they need constant, passionate exposure to the great artistic heritage of their people, so that even if they don’t grow up to be artists themselves, they will still have been blessed, as Americans have always been blessed, with the artist’s gift for seeing the possible in the impossible, the fellow soul on the other side of the fence. Our artists need freedom to pursue the solitary investigations into which their art inevitably leads them. America needs that untrammeled flow of creativity, of the willingness and ability to innovate, to skylark, to tinker, to daydream out loud: over the course of two and a half centuries now, our creative flow has filled the world’s libraries, museums, theaters and recital halls, its academies, movie houses and marketplaces, with works of genius to break the heart and boggle the mind. And the people of the world--our world--need an America that remains in full, confident possession of its mighty gift of imagination, not merely to meet the global demand for our entertainment and art and literature, but so that they--and we--need never fear the brutality, the arrogance and the inhumanity to which a nation in want of imagination must, inevitably, descend.

Michael Chabon is the Pulitzer Prize and Hugo Award-winning author of THE YIDDISH POLICEMEN’S UNION and THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY. His other books include THE MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH and WONDER BOYS. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s, and in a number of anthologies, among them Best American Short Stories 2001 and Prize Stories 1999: The O. Henry Awards. He lives in Berkeley, California, with his wife, Ayelet Waldman, also a novelist, and their four children.