Steve Meckler

Daniel Asia

University of Arizona professor Daniel Asia has been appointed to the National Council on the Arts, the advisory body for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which awards grants and funding to initiatives that support the arts all over the country. 

Asia is a professor of music and composition at the UA, as well as a composer and conductor, said he's excited about the appointment. 

But, it comes at a time when President Donald Trump could defund it. Trump's latest budget — like many budgets before it — would zero out funding for the NEA.

Asia joined The Show to talk more about that and why he says federal funding for the arts is essential.

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