As part of Arts Advocacy Day 2011 in Washington, actor Kevin Spacey gave the Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy at the Kennedy Center.  Below is an excerpt from his speech, in which he quoted President John F. Kennedy regarding the necessity of the arts.  Kennedy said, “There is a connection, hard to explain logically but easy to feel, between achievement in public life and progress in the arts…Art is not a form of propaganda.  It is a form of truth.”

Spacey also shared his own views, saying, “I genuinely believe that the United States’ preeminence in the arts and creative industries is one of this nation’s most powerful, natural resources.”

Also, check out Kevin Spacey discussing the importance of the arts on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews.

Thanks to Eva Yaa Asantewaa for sharing these videos.