First lady Michelle Obama says she and the president hope to give America's children better access to the arts and the ability to turn their artistic talents into careers. "The arts are not just a nice thing to have," Mrs. Obama said Monday at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she cut the ribbon for the newly renovated American wing. "They define who we are as a people." Attending the ceremony was a broad mix of city and state officials and members of New York's art and fashion worlds. "The president and I want to ensure that all children have access to great works of art," she told a crowd that included students from four New York City public schools that specialize in the arts. "We want all children who believe in their talent to see a way to create a future in the arts community, either as a hobby or as a profession." AP
