Each day our world evolves farther from our notion of the familiar, and we must adapt to its changing nature. In this challenging time, we look to our artists and scholars to continue to inform our decisions and our actions. Musicians, actors, philosophers, playwrights, painters, writers, sculptors, dancers and historians share with us their talent and training. Through their unique perspectives, they strengthen our understanding, inspire our finest achievements and give voice to our deepest aspirations.

Whether we play an instrument, read poetry, learn to pirouette, or spend hours alone in a local art gallery, we all have the capacity to be moved by a song, a poem, a story, a dance, a painting. We can feel our spirits soar when we see an intriguing film, or the sudden illumination of a new idea, or an old idea treated in a new way.

Because we discover our greatest possibilities through the exploration of the human spirit, we must encourage our young people to build on this cultural legacy, and seek their highest potential in the arts and humanities, alongside their other passions. Children inspired by their own creative achievements excel in other areas of learning, developing the skills and the confidence to create better lives and brighter futures. To take one example, we have significant data demonstrating that young people who come from different cultures, with different languages, have their language facilitation their ability to learn English, to read in English, to think and relate to people in a new culture dramatically accelerated if they are more exposed to the arts. Today, on the threshold of a new millennium, these vital pursuits in our individual lives and in the life of our democracy are more essential than ever to the endurance of our values of tolerance, pluralism and freedom, to our understanding of where we are and where we need to go. Let us remember that the arts and humanities are a necessity, not a luxury, and that every American deserves to have access to them. Instead of cutting back on our modest efforts to support the arts and humanities, therefore, I believe we should stand by them on the national, regional and local level, and challenge our artists, musicians and writers challenge our museums, libraries and theaters to continue to achieve and create. And, in the private sector, we hope to see the continuation of the extraordinarily successful partnerships that have been forged between business and the arts, as well as the generous support rendered by foundations and individual donors in urban America and in the heartland alike.

Indeed, we should challenge all Americans in the arts and humanities to join with their fellow citizens to make the year 2000 a national celebration of the American spirit in every community, a celebration of our common culture in the century that is past and in the new millennium, so that we can remain a beacon not only of liberty but of creativity, long after the fireworks have faded. Let us resolve to sustain this national commitment to artistic and intellectual life for the generations to come.