Last week I was in Washington, D.C. for Americans for the Arts' annual Arts Advocacy Day.

A highlight of the event was the Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

This year’s speaker was Wynton Marsalis, who wove words and music together in a powerful message about art, unity and freedom.

Americans for the Arts posted video of Mr. Marsalis' lecture on its Web site.

Watch the video at http://www.americansforthearts.org/news/afta_news/default.asp#item18 and post your thoughts about what Mr. Marsalis had to say.

~ Arts Council Executive Director Cindy Clair