Published: November 03, 2009 11:49 am      

Obama enlists Hollywood names for arts committee

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is enlisting "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker, Forest Whitaker and others from Hollywood and beyond to help push President Barack Obama's arts initiatives.

On Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden will install 25 new members of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

Parker and Whitaker are among the most famous names, along with actors Edward Norton and Alfre Woodard and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The list also includes "Vogue" magazine editor Anna Wintour and philanthropist Teresa Heinz, wife of U.S. Sen. John Kerry.

The committee will be led by George Stevens Jr., executive producer of the Kennedy Center Honors and founder of the American Film Institute, and Broadway producer Margo Lion.