Michelle Obama: Ambassador For The Arts At Pittsburgh Creative And Performing Arts School

It is the first subject to be struck from curriculum when budget cuts set in.  Compared to it's athletic counterpart, the arts more so than any other major subject undeniably "get the shaft" when it comes to allocating resources in schools across the nation.  

Michelle Obama is hoping that will change.  Last week, the First Lady hosted a special concert at the Pittsburgh Creative & Performing Arts School for its students and the spouses of international leaders deliberating at the G-20 economic summit, giving hope that this may just be a mere prelude to future emphasis on the arts by the new administration. In a full, 11-minute address the first lady endorsed the arts as being "at the heart of our national life."  A concert featuring Sara Bareilles, Yo-Yo Ma and Trisha Yearwood followed.  

The First Lady went onto say that: "[T]he truth is, is that even though many....kids are living in Washington, D.C. and in cities across the country, just minutes away from the centers of culture and power and prestige, many of them feel like these resources are really miles away, very far beyond their reach. That's something that I felt growing up...And my husband and I are determined to help to bridge that distance. It is critical that we begin to bridge that distance...We want to show these young people that they have a place in our world, in our museums, our theaters, our concert halls.... We want them to experience the richness of our nation's cultural heritage, one on one, up close and personal, not on TV. We want to show them that they can have a future in the arts community -- whether it's a hobby, or a profession, or simply as an appreciative observer...."

To read the First Lady's full speech on BroadwayWorld.com, click here.