Peter Coyote on public employment of artists
“If you look at where all of this business has migrated, it’s not just cheap dollars. It has migrated to cultures that are strong on artistic design and aesthetics, where [they are] integrated into the culture. So by isolating science and math as core curriculum and isolating art and design, we’ve created uninteresting products that the marketplace has passed judgment on.”
– Peter Coyote on why folks aren’t buying US products anymore.
Quote is taken from the video at the top, shot on behalf of the National Campaign to Hire Artists to Work in Schools and Communities. The actor is discussing why there is a dire need to make artists part of the educational and government process.
Take 5:30 to listen to this.
Coyote discusses the cost-effectiveness of bringing artists into schools, not just for afternoon fingerpainting courses, but for the trickle-down (or watershed-down) effect of stimulating the economy.