Musician/record producer Quincy Jones suggested that the US should have a Secretary Of The Arts. Jones pointed out that countries in Europe and elsewhere have ministers of culture.
There is even an online petition supporting Q's idea.
There should be no need to explain the importance of the arts and culture in our lives, and if you don't get it, I probably can't help.
If the government cuts arts funding, as has happened this year with promises of even greater funding cuts next year, we will in fact harm our society and help to raise a generation of TV and online addicts lacking the creativity to compete on an international level.
Which reminds me of a recent article I read titled iPhones Have Consequences. It is not really about iPhones, but about digital "culture," or lack thereof. Read it all the way through, or else you will be proving the very point of the article.
I don't know about present but in the past Poland always had The Ministry of Culture .
Typically a world class icon would be nominated for a minister .
Yes , still there .
The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage :
http://www.mk.gov.pl/