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For Immediate Release

Steven D. Spiess Elected Chair

Washington, DC - May 7, 2003 - Americans for the Arts announces several additions to its Board of Directors.  Steven D. Spiess, Executive Director at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, has been elected Chair of the Board.  New members include Leslie Ito and Abel Lopez. 

Robert Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, said "Steve Spiess has long been involved with our organization and brings to us wonderful analytical skills and a real knowledge of financial issues.  He is a passionate advocate for the arts, especially at the community level.  We are also pleased to welcome Leslie Ito and Abel Lopez to our board as they bring a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds to the collective voice of Americans for the Arts."

Steven Spiess was a founding Board member of Americans for the Arts and previously served as its Treasurer.  Mr. Spiess is also a member of the Board of the United Arts Funds Council, which Americans for the Arts oversees.  In addition, Mr. Spiess currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Cravath, Swaine & Moore September 11th Relief Fund.  He is actively involved in several community service projects in the New York metropolitan area and consults with a variety of charitable organizations on a regular basis. 

Leslie Ito is Director of Program Development at Visual Communications in Los Angeles, the first national Asian American media arts organization.  She is also the co-coordinator for the California Asian American and Pacific Islander Arts Network, an informal advocacy and networking group.  From 1998-2000, she was a Program Associate in the Media, Arts & Culture Division at the Ford Foundation in New York.  Ms. Ito received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College in American Studies and her M.A. in Asian American Studies at UCLA.

A graduate of Harvard Law School, Abel Lopez is Associate Producing Director of GALA Hispanic Theatre and the President of the Board of Directors of the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation and Chair-Emeritus of the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities.  Mr. Lopez was President of the League of Washington Theatres for five consecutive terms.  During his second term as President of the League, the Non-Traditional Casting Symposium was produced in Washington, the second in the nation.  He served six terms as President of the Board of Directors of the Non-Traditional Casting Project and served as President of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture from 1994-2001.  He is currently a member of the Boards of Directors of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Theatre Communications Group, and the American Arts Alliance.

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With offices in Washington, DC, and New York City, it has a 40-year record of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

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