The U.S. Senate approved President George W. Bush’s nomination of LSU English professor Bret Lott for a position on the National Council on the Arts, the advisory body of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Lott, who is also editor and director of the Southern Review, will be sworn in for his six-year term in March.
“I am looking forward to helping our country appreciate and participate in the arts in every facet, from its creation to its exhibition and performance,” Lott said. “Everyone benefits from the arts, and working to make sure the arts are promoted in our country will be my great honor.”
Lott has written six novels, three short story collections and two nonfiction books.
“I am working on a new novel, “Ancient Highway,” which I hope to finish very soon,” he said.
Lott, who lives in Israel, said he was notified through an e-mail that he was confirmed for the position. He received notification after midnight the last day of Congress’s final session on Dec. 9, 2006.
Lott said he was relieved when he found out about his approval.
“The process takes so long-almost a year-and is exhaustive,” he said. “The FBI even interviewed my college roommates.”
Lott said his appointment to the council is an honor and blessing and shows how important the University is to the arts community.
“My working here and editing the journal has a great deal to do with why I was chosen,” he said.
Lott, along with five other new council members, will be responsible for advising Dana Gioia, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, on funding, policies and other national initiatives concerning the various arts.
“The National Council on the Arts provides important and invaluable advice and counsel to the Arts Endowment,” Gioia said in a press release. “The president has appointed a group of artists and patrons who bring the passion, expertise and commitment necessary to perform this duty on behalf of the American people. The entire NEA staff looks forward to working with all of our new council members.”
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]