Arts and the man

As January approaches, I've been thinking of this quote more and more:

"I see little of more importance to the future of our country and our civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist. ... I look forward to an America which will reward achievement in the arts as we reward achievement in business or statecraft."
-John F. Kennedy at Amherst College, 1963

How long has it been since we had a leader who put that much emphasis on the arts? Are we finally moving in the right direction?

Here's hoping.