President Obama announced his intention to nominate Jane Chu, a pianist and arts administrator from Kansas City, Mo., to lead the National Endowment for the Arts, which has been without a permanent chief for more than a year.
“Jane’s lifelong passion for the arts and her background in philanthropy have made her a powerful advocate for artists and arts education in Kansas City,” Mr. Obama said in a statement. “She knows firsthand how art can open minds, transform lives and revitalize communities, and believes deeply in the importance of the arts to our national culture.”
Since 2006, Ms. Chu has been president and chief executive of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City. An energetic fund-raiser, she oversaw the construction and opening of the $326 million center, which has been lauded for helping to revitalize the downtown area.
The appointment comes after criticism from arts advocates that the White House has left the endowment to flounder in the 14 months since the previous chairman, Rocco Landesman, announced his departure. The endowment, which primarily finances cultural organizations and programs that increase access to the arts, has frequently been targeted by conservative legislators in Washington for steep cuts or elimination. The endowment’s budget for this fiscal year is $146 million.
Praise for Ms. Chu, whose nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, followed the announcement.
Robert L. Lynch, president and chief executive of the Americans for the Arts, said in a statement, “I am pleased that President Obama has put forward a strong nominee for chair of the National Endowment for the Arts.” Mr. Lynch, who has been critical of the prolonged vacancy at the top of the agency, added that Ms. Chu’s skill as an artist and business manager “is a valuable mix, important to our nation’s key public sector arts position.”
In addition to musical degrees, Ms. Chu has a master’s degree in business administration and a Ph.D. in philanthropic studies.
An editorial in the Kansas City Star described her as “quietly efficient, guardedly passionate and publicly unflappable,” and said she “managed to balance the needs and desires of a high-powered board, three ambitious and demanding resident arts organizations, disparate civic and government interests involved in the center, and widely engaged and often unforgiving audiences.”
Julia Irene Kauffman, chairwoman of Kauffman Center, said in a statement: “Although we will miss her at the Kauffman Center, I believe the president has chosen wisely and we wish her well in this important endeavor.”
A center spokesman said Ms. Chu would not be making any statement through the confirmation process.
In the meantime, Joan Shigekawa will continue to serve as the agency’s acting chairwoman.