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The conference, "Values/Arts/Action: Making the Arts Central to Our Communities and Ourselves," features the first official speech given by William J. Ivey since his confirmation last week as the new Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. Ivey is expected to present his vision and plans for the NEA to nearly 800 local arts leaders from all 50 states gathered for the largest meeting of its kind. Other keynote speakers include Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner; choreographer Liz Lerman; and Georgia's first African-American chief presiding state court judge, Glenda Hatchett, whose brainchild, an arts program for at-risk youth, has actually helped those identified by the court as truant from becoming more deeply involved in the juvenile justice system.

"Americans for the Arts is pleased to bring people together from many different communities to look at important arts-related issues," said Bob Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "This is a rare opportunity for local leaders from the public and private sectors to meet face to face, which we hope will inspire and forge partnerships that will extend long beyond our conference and, ultimately, make the arts accessible to more people in America."

Among the highlights:

• A national forum on the value of united arts fund raising campaigns, which raise private sector dollars for distribution to local arts groups in the community;
• A "state of the arts" report from the heads of leading national arts groups including the American Association of Museums, American Symphony Orchestra League, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Opera America and others;
• A preconference on training artists to work in alternative settings, such as hospitals, juvenile detention centers, churches and public housing developments, an approach in response to a growing trend to bring arts education outside traditional venues and into the community; and
• A focus on public art, its place in a community and communicating its value to taxpayers who fund it.

This year marks a return to the city that hosted the very first Americans for the Arts convention 20 years ago. Special events will include a reception at the Denver Art Museum and a trip to Red Rocks Amphitheater for a performance by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Local hosts for the convention include the Mayor's Office of Art, Culture and Film, the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, Western States Arts Federation, Colorado Business Committee for the Arts, Colorado Council on the Arts and the Colorado Arts Consortium.