Music producer Quincy Jones is leading a call for president-elect Barack Obama to create a Cabinet-level post — perhaps a secretary of culture — for the arts and humanities, reports the Washington Post.

Jones says he has been promoting the idea for at least 10 years and specifically wants an education system in place that teaches the history and people of the arts in the U.S., particularly music.

Jones's idea was the inspiration for an online petition started by New York musicians Jaime Austria and Peter Weitzner, which, as of yesterday, had 76,000 signees in support of the creation of a new position. "We are not quite sure, especially in this environment, what the secretary of the arts could provide, but foremost is advocacy for arts education and awareness of the financial rewards the arts bring to a community," said Weitzner.

Many arts administrators have been calling for this kind of governmental position for years and have expressed support for the recently ignited movement. "Whether you call it a minister of culture or not, it would be wonderful to have someone with a policy role to coordinate arts education, cultural diplomacy, and support for arts organizations," said Michael Kaiser, president of the Kennedy Center. "Those activities are not coordinated but divided among many offices."

Currently, the government runs the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services, as well as a President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, a volunteer group. The government also funds a number of museums, and other arts-related programs are carried out by the departments of State and Education.

Jones said the new position is not intended as a criticism of current arts leaders in Washington. "They are doing a fantastic job," he said. He also admitted that Obama "is facing too many crises. I am not an unrealistic person. He has got his hands full."