U.S. President Barack Obama has named 25 artists and educators, including actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Forest Whitaker and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, to a national arts advisory committee.

The Committee on Arts and the Humanities, established in 1982, fosters arts and humanities education, cultural diplomacy and economic revitalization through the arts.

The president's wife Michelle Obama is honorary chairwoman of the committee, which also works with organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities to encourage public-private partnerships on cultural projects.

Congress last week increased funding to the NEA, which makes donations to arts organizations, by $12.5 million US to $167.5 million US annually for 2010. The NEH also has a $12.5 million US increase.

Film producer George Stevens Jr. and theatre producer Margo Lion are co-chairs of the committee, which now includes a range of artists, from architects and actors to educators and veteran arts administrators.

Members appointed Monday include:

• Agent Bryan Lourd, managing director of Creative Artists Agency.
• Actor Edward Norton.
• Actor Kerry Washington.
• Director George Wolfe.
• Independent filmmaker Liz Manne.
• Publicist Andy Spahn.
• Actor Alfre Woodard.
• Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
• Philanthropist Teresa Heinz.
• Architect Thom Mayne.
• Ballet dancer Damian Woetzel.