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THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                          (New York, New York)
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For Immediate Release                                      June 16, 2000

                               FACT SHEET

President Clinton Encourages Support of Arts and Music Education

Today, President Clinton will participate in an event addressing music education as part of "VH1 Save The Music Today!" week. The President will underscore his commitment to music and art education and the important role it plays in helping students achieve their full potential. The VH1 Save the Music Foundation will also announce a major donation to restore music education in the City of New York Public Schools.

Over the past 7- years, the Clinton Administration has provided leadership in this area and worked to give visibility to the importance of the arts in children's education, including the following ways:

VH1 and Time Warner Cable joined forces in 1997 and launched "Save the Music," a program designed to restore and support music education in the public schools. In its first year, "Save the Music" collected more than $1 million worth of instruments in its effort to reinvigorate music education in New York City, and is currently working to expand the program into 40 communities, in 23 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

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