I had the pleasure of being interviewed by John Hirschauer for 10 Blocks, the podcast of City Journal magazine, a publication of the Manhattan Institute. To quote:
John Hirschauer: According to sources, you’re being considered to chair the National Endowment for the Arts. What specific goals would you aim to achieve were you appointed to that post?
Justin Shubow: Well, I don’t want to be presumptuous about serving in the administration, but it would be a true honor and privilege. . . .
My vision for the NEA comes from Dana Gioia, the masterful poet and translator who served as NEA chairman under President George W. Bush. Gioia said, “A great nation deserves great art,” and I fervently agree. I believe the agency needs major change. For many years, Republican politicians have called for eliminating the NEA, but I think that is because they don’t believe the agency has been fostering great art, and I would do my best to change that. The way I see it, and I hope this is not controversial, the highest art is that which is beautiful, profound, and/or moving. It reflects the human condition.
When I go into a contemporary art museum today, I have to say I don’t often see much that is beautiful, profound or moving, and the NEA needs to do its part to fix that. I believe this country needs a cultural and artistic renaissance, and National Endowment for the Arts ought to play a key role in that.
City Journal (includes transcript): https://www.city-journal.org/multimedia/making-architecture-classical-again
Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-architecture-classical-again/id273130612?i=1000680054982
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3bCKW8QYh6OgGZikNGwfrW