press room
For Immediate Release
08/08/2007Contact:
Beth Olsen
Goodman Media for Americans for the Arts
212.576.2700 ext. 243 or bolsen@goodmanmedia.com
Americans for the Arts Presents the 2007 State Arts Leadership Award to Arizona State Senator Carolyn Allen
BOSTON, MA — August 8, 2007 — Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America, and the National Conference of State Legislatures today presented the State Arts Leadership Award to Senator Carolyn Allen of Arizona. The award honors a public official who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the advancement of the arts at the state level. It was presented at the National Conference of State Legislatures in Boston, as part of the Public Leadership in the Arts Awards series.
"To say I am thrilled would be an understatement,” said Senator Allen. “I have devoted many years working to support the arts. And in the legislature, I have fought to ensure funding for the arts. I've spent many years in many facets of the arts and this, without a doubt, for me, is my own Academy Award. I am so grateful for this recognition."
Nominated by the Arizona Citizens for the Arts, Senator Allen received the 2007 State Arts Leadership Award for her arts advocacy throughout her state. Despite an extremely conservative environment with leadership from her own party opposing public funding for the arts, Senator Allen has been for several years the most vocal arts advocate in the state legislature who refuses to vote for the state budget when it did not include arts funds. In 2003, Senator Allen prevented the Arizona Commission on the Arts annual appropriation from being zeroed-out, and in 2006 led the effort to ensure that the completion of the Arizona ArtShare endowment was completed—a $7 million budget item, finishing the state's promise of $20 million in total.
Senator Allen has been a board member of Arizona Citizens for the Arts since 2003. Prior to her election, she was development director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the Scottsdale Cultural Council. She also served as executive director and president of the Board of Directors of the Scottsdale Arts Center Association.
“Senator Allen has been a loyal advocate for the arts throughout Arizona,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “Her leadership and dedication to public funding for the arts is exemplary.”
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 record of more than 45 years 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.
