“Tonight we get to leave politics behind and celebrate the arts,” Carolyn Powers, the chair of the National Arts Awards, rejoiced when she began the festivities for the non-profit American for the Arts’ annual recognition of artists and patrons on 17 October in New York, which presented Doug Aitken with this year’s award for outstanding contribution to the arts. But bi-partisan lobbying for government support of the arts in the United States is at the centre of the non-profit’s mission, and politics in some form naturally made its way into the evening’s discourse. Roselyne “Sissy” Chroman Swig, the recipient of the philanthropy in the arts award, reminded the audience that while arts awareness is established, “the priority of the arts is always in flux”. And the presenters included Nancy Pelosi, the Minority Leader of the US House of Representatives (who received standing applause from some—but not all—of the crowd), who said that the arts are woven into the Constitution. (She also got a hearty laugh when she said she was happy to be at the awards, and that no one would doubt her sincerity, “considering the options”.) But when Pelosi presented the lifetime achievement award to the 90-year-old singer—and painter—Tony Bennett, he left politics behind for passion, saying: “I love doing what I do—and I’m gonna keep going.”
