First lady plays host to G20 spouses

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- First Lady Michelle Obama took her turn at playing host -- to the spouses of world leaders in Pittsburgh for the G20 summit.

She led a tour Friday of the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School, a city high school, and praised the students for their talents.

"I wanted to come here because this school embodies the belief that President Obama and I share -- and that is the arts aren't just a nice thing to do if you have a little time, right?" she told students and spouses of the leaders of Group of 20 countries.

"It shouldn't be something you do just because you can afford it. We believe strongly that the arts aren't somehow an 'extra' part of our national life, but instead we feel that the arts are at the heart of our national life."

Country artist Trisha Yearwood, singer Sara Bareilles, cellist Yo Yo Ma and student dancers and musicians performed.

Also Friday, the group took in a behind-the-scenes tour of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.

On Thursday, Obama took the first spouses to a dinner just outside the city in Fox Chapel at the working farm of Teresa Heinz Kerry, a local philanthropist and wife of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.