At the turn of the 21st century, what is the status of culture in American society? Without meaning to oversimplify the answer, it is sufficient to point out that our culture reflects a deep decline and a need for new direction. Though we can boast a great number of the most popular artists in the world, we deny that we idolize 1% of professional artists and starve the rest. Though our society has fought for many sexual liberties, the ultimate value we place on our sexuality has become limited and cheap.

Cultural leadership in America is wearing thin. How did this happen? It has happened because America has permitted it to happen. We have abdicated our responsibility to build up and sustain authentic cultural leaders, particularly mature artists who humbly serve humanity. Instead we ignore the leadership they have to offer and let them fend like dogs to make an honest living. Then we wonder why artists so often become angry and disengaged from the rest of society. Most artists start out very engaged, with visions of inspiring social change and a better world. Why not employ the idealistic “starving artist” to do just that? We will not see culture revitalized without their leadership.

I advocate for  21st century renaissance. Together we can build a soulful America, a society sophisticated in aesthetics and a patron to groundbreaking artists that make a real contribution to community, culture, and a just society. I advocate for a mature America. Together we can build a society that celebrates the glory and wonder of sexuality in men and women with confidence and respect before God, the origin of all glory and wonder. I advocate for the artist who serves such a society, who deserves respect as a noble leader of culture.

Whether we accept it or not, the creative class in our society will always carry the stories of our history, and they will always provide the artifacts that comprise the vocabulary of social discourse. What history will they tell? As well, their creative energy will flesh out our cultural definition of sexuality. How will they define it? These answers depend on you. What stories are told and how sexuality gets defined in our culture depends on who supports and looks after the emerging creative class.

The commissioners of art are in effect the commissioners of culture. If you surrender your right to actively cultivate leaders among the creative class and commission their work, then you surrender your right to criticize the direction our culture has already taken.

Will you not take responsibility for building a 21st century that is culturally rich? Where art and sexuality no longer starve in poverty but thrive in vitality? Will you not advocate for the cultural leader whose sacrificial service contributes to a better world, to the very society for which we are responsible before God to build?

If you are not sure how to advocate for artists that contribute to humanity, to our communities and to our culture, please allow me to point the way. I am your representative. I am your advocate.