NEA Head Optimistic of Bush Support

Tuesday, December 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) â€” The chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts said he's optimistic that President-elect Bush will support vibrant government funding for the arts as he argued for an ``American cultural bill of rights.''

Those rights should include support for high-class art that will portray an accurate image of American art abroad, Bill Ivey said. It's not enough, he said, to support art that sells well.

``Do we want to possess a confidence that ... we're represented not just by blockbuster movies, but by quality art that might not flourish in a global economy?'' Ivey asked. ``Or is it enough to squander our achievements in a careless consumerism?''

Ivey, appointed by President Clinton in 1997, said the NEA had not yet had contact with the Bush transition team. But he said he was optimistic because spending on the arts increased during his years as Texas governor.

Funding for the Texas Commission on the Arts rose from $3.3 million in 1997 to $5.2 million in 1998, 1999 and 2000, before dropping to $4.7 for the current fiscal year, the NEA said.

Other planks in his ``cultural bill of rights'' included the right to explore the history of art and music, the right to create art, the right to participate in a community of artists and the right to choose among performances, exhibitions and programs.