Robin Pogrebin of the New York Times reports today on that state of the National Endowment for the Arts. While the NEA once enjoyed a $172 million budget (in 1992), these days its budget is $155 million. Earlier this year the NEA and supporters were scrambling to make sure the arts were included the stimulus package and omnibus spending bill.

The NEA nearly received no money from the stimulus, due to partisan politics in Congress, and while it eventually was given $50 million, that money will have to be spread thin over the whole nation. The NYT reports that while the NEA is still under funded, arts supporters are optimistic that the Obama administration will protect and promote the arts.

It is “a step up from what we’ve had before,” said Representative Louise M. Slaughter, a New York Democrat who is co-chairwoman of the Congressional Arts Caucus. “I don’t think we’re yet up to where we were.” And, she added, “I would certainly like to see that.”

Still, Ms. Slaughter said she was heartened that the administration’s point person for the arts would be working out of the West Wing, rather than from the first lady’s office, as in the past.

Of course, all this makes me think about is that episode of “The West Wing” when Toby (of course) fights for the NEA. He says:

There is a connection between the progress of a society and progress int he arts. The age of Pericles was also the age of Phidias. The age of Lorenzo di Medici was also the age of Leonardo Di Vinci. The age of Elizabeth was the age of Shakespeare.

Which, by the way, is pretty much exactly what President Obama said to the performers and entertainers backstage at the “We Are One” concert before his inauguration. Minus the “age of Phidias” bit. Make sure to takepart by donating to the National Endowment for the Arts.