National Endowment of The Arts Questionable Practices, Part II

More trouble surrounding the National Endowment for the Arts, the Los Angeles Times reports today. Communications Director for the NEA Yogi Sergant has received a demotion after much chatter surfaced regarding Sergant's alleged recruitment of private arts organizations to get involved with Obama's United We Serve political initiative (which includes the support of his health care reform) on an August 10th conference call . As previously reported, The Washington Times launched a harsh editorial attack on the NEA just a couple weeks ago for trying to politicize such organizations (taboo, since the NEA, an independent government organization funds these private organizations).

NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman, in consistent fashion, immediately came to the defense of the organization, clarifying that Sergant merely identified volunteer opportunities to the arts community, and did not promote a legislative agenda. Naturally, the more conservative of Republicans were not buying, evidenced by Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas' open letter to Obama over the alleged politicization of the NEA. Wrote Cornyn: "this episode appears to merit congressional hearings and sustained oversight," The Los Angeles Times reports.

The Los Angeles Times also reports that: "According to Landesman, Sergant took part in the teleconference without authorization from his then-boss, Patrice Walker Powell, who was in charge as the NEA's acting chairman through Aug. 10. Landesman, a noted Broadway producer, said he became chairman on Aug. 11, the day after the teleconference." Despite Lanesman's position that Sargant was not endeavoring to rally the arts community in support of any particular political agenda, he has publicly acknowledged that Sargant did cross an inappropriate line and relieved him of his post, accordingly.

To read the full Los Angeles Times article, click here.

In the atmosphere of the he-said-she-said that has surrounded this issue of late, at least one thing is clear: Lanesman, a career Broadway Producer, has his new work cut out for him as he continues to finesse the challenge of extricating art and politics--arguably an oxymoron.

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