Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Excerpts made by Mr. Spacey on April 4th in Washington, D.C. at The Kennedy Center
Art and creativity is one of the most significant ways that humanity uses to fight back against, and to lift itself out of, the muck, and dirt, and the grime, and the horror, and the unfairness of political persecution, racist attacks, hatred, intolerance, and downright cruelty.
But luckily, to support our cause, there have been a long and distinguished line of some of the most important figures in world and political history, who have managed to lay to rest the long list with eloquent words on the argument of the value that arts gives to our lives.
I’m going to quote President Kennedy, because we are in his hall, and I want you to listen to the words of this young President on this subject:
“There is a connection, hard to explain logically, but easy to feel, between achievement in public life and progress in the arts. The age of Lorenzo D'Medici was also the age of Leonardo da Vinci. The age of Elizabeth was also the age of Shakespeare. In America, artists quite often contribute not only to the size of our nation but to our spirit, not only to our political beliefs but to our esteem, not only to our self esteem but to our self comprehension.
And like the great poet, Robert Frost, who saw poetry as the means of saving itself when he said: “When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.”
I look forward to America which will steadily raise the standard of artistic accomplishments and large cultural opportunities for all of our citizens.
We must never forget: Art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth. For art establishes the basic human truth which must serve as the touchstone of our judgment.
The highest duty of the writer, of the composer, the artist is to remain true to themselves, and let the chips fall where they may, and the nation that disdains the mission of art invites nothing to have to look backward with pride, and nothing to look forward with hope.
I look forward to America which will not be afraid of grace and beauty.
I look forward to America which will steadily raise the standard of artistic accomplishments and large cultural opportunities for all of our citizens
I look forward to America which commands respect throughout the world, not only for its strength, but for its civilization.
I see little of more importance for this country, for its people, for our future and our civilization than the full recognition of the place of the artist.”
And you can find some of those remarkable words of President Kennedy’s just outside this building, inscribed on the marble walls on the terrace, just beyond the grand foyer, and the idea for this Cultural Center dates back to 1933 when First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt discussed ideas to create a cultural center, to employ artists who were unemployed during the Great Depression. But we weren’t quite ready for it.
It took until September 4th 1958, when a bill was finally passed in Congress and President Eisenhower signed into law the National Cultural Act.
It was the first time in United States history that the Federal Government financed a public structure. This structure dedicated to the performing arts. 1958. The year before I was born. And look at where we are now.
The creative industries are perhaps the most important export the United States shares around the world. I genuinely believe the United States’s pre-imminence in the arts and its creative industries are one of the nation’s most powerful natural resources.
But many arts institutions are suffering already, and the future of arts funding is uncertain to say the least – and whatever cuts are pursued in the government over these next several weeks and months, champions of the arts are having to make a very good case to hang on to what they have – while others are sure to feel the potentially devastating affect, which will make it difficult to operate and to make any real progress. The fact is, with or without any cuts, the affect of the economic downturn will be felt for the years to come.
But if we don’t act now – to encourage the members of Congress and the Senate to continue the work of the National Endowment of the Arts, we risk our cultural life to be diminished.
…Why do I do this? To repay the debt I owe Jack Lemmon. Jack Lemmon had a phrase that he used all the time that I’ve now adopted as my own. If you’ve been successful in your chosen path, then ‘sending the elevator back down’ is your obligation.
…Are artistic endeavors are luxury items? No, they are a necessity. Culture provides the magic of our experience. 2011 Excerpts from the Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy made by Mr. Spacey in Washington, D.C. at The Kennedy Center. Reprinted with the Permission of Mr. Spacey. The Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy is a leading national forum for arts policy intended to stimulate dialogue on policy and social issues affecting the arts. It is held each year on the evening before Arts Advocacy Day at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The annual lecture is named for Nancy Hanks, former President of Americans for the Arts and chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, who devoted 15 years of her professional life to bringing the arts to prominent national consciousness. • 2011
2011 Excerpts from the Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public.
KEVIN SPACEY Artistic Director of The Old Vic Theatre Company in London. He will be appearing as Richard III in the upcoming production at The Old Vic, directed by Sam Mendes. Mr. Spacey’s also appeared recently at The Old Vic in “Inherit the Wind,” which marked his second production with Trevor Nunn. Mr. Spacey directed its inaugural production “Cloaca”, before appearing in “National Anthems” “The Philadelphia Story,” “Richard II,” “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” which subsequently transferred to Broadway, and “Speed-the-Plow” with Jeff Goldblum. His theatre includes “The Iceman Cometh” (Evening Standard, Olivier Awards) directed by Howard Davies (Almeida, Old Vic, Broadway); “Lost in Yonkers: (Tony Award); “Long Day’s Journey into Night” with Jack Lemmon, directed by Jonathan Miller (Broadway, West End); and “The Seagull” (Kennedy Center). Mr. Spacey’s films include “The Usual Suspects” (Academy Award, Best Supporting Actor), “American Beauty” (Academy, BAFTA Awards, Best Actor), “Swimming with Sharks,” “Se7en,” “LA Confidential,” “Glengarry Glen Ross,” “The Negotiator,” “K-Pax,” “The Shipping News,” “Superman Returns,” “Beyond the Sea,” “Shrink,” “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” and “Casino Jack”(Golden Globe nom.). His upcoming films include “Margin Call” and “Horrible Bosses.” His company, Trigger Street Production, has produced the films: “21,” “The United States of Leland,” “The Big Kahuna,” “Fanboys,” “The Social Network,” and the HBO films “Recount,” and “Bernard & Doris” starring Ralph Feinnes and Susan Sarandon, directed by Bob Balaban.
