U.S. Department of Culture? Change Being the Operative Word

Further to what Ed Winkleman is saying here about Obama's plans for art and cultural advancement being too vague — and given that even arts supporters feel a need to play defense when it comes to institutions like the NEA — what about if President-elect Barack Obama were to scrap the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities altogether and start with something fresh? I like a U.S. Department of Culture for the branding exercise alone. Right now I feel that the best way to show more support for the arts is to find buyin from the arts world. The usefulness of the NEA as a wedge has waned with the Republican brand and culture wars more broadly speaking, but the scars are still fresh in the art world and cynicism dominates. There are other good reasons for doing this, but branding is the one I like best.