Since 1997, Americans for the Arts has partnered annually with The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), the official nonpartisan organization of the 1,139 US cities with populations of 30,000 or more, to honor elected officials and artists for their outstanding public leadership in the advancement of the arts. Recipients were honored on Friday, Janurary 24 at The United States Conference of Mayors’ 82nd annual winter meeting in Washington, D.C.

"This artist and these elected government officials understand the critical importance the arts, culture, and creativity play in the education of our children," said Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts.  "This group of awardees has consistently advocated for more government support of the arts and culture at all levels of government."

 "Every year, the U.S. Conference of Mayors recognizes the efforts of those who believe as much as we do, that the arts are the heart of our society," said U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran. "Arts and culture help shape a city’s quality of life, but mayors also understand the connection between the arts and business and the arts’ impact on the local economy."

Citizen Artist Award
This year, actress, producer, and activist Fran Drescher was ther recipient of the 2014 Public Leadership in the Arts Citizen Artist Award. Drescher received two Emmy and two Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal as the lovable 'Miss Fine' on the CBS hit series "The Nanny," a show she created, wrote, directed, and executive produced. Drescher has actively participated in the Americans for the Arts annual Arts Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill and has brought national attention to the need for public support of the arts and arts education in America. 

Drescher recently wrote a children's book, Being Wendy, and was most recently awarded the Ally for Equality Award by the Human Rights Campaign for her efforts to defend civil liberties.

Local Arts Leadership Awards

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder received the 2014 Public Leadership in the Arts Award for State Arts Leadership. Now in his fourth year as Michigan’s Governor, Rick Snyder has been a champion for the arts at the state level.  Affirming the important role the arts and culture play in Michigan’s economic resurgence, state funding for the arts and culture has grown to $8.15 million in FY 2014, up from a low of $2.56 million allocated in FY 2012 when Governor Snyder assumed office.  He becomes the first governor in over a decade to propose back to back budget increases for state arts funding in Michigan.

"Art and culture are vital to Michigan’s reinvention," Snyder said. "They nourish us as individuals, unite us as communities and strengthen us by attracting new talent to our state. Michigan’s economic success goes hand in hand with the creative energy that thrives in every corner of the state. Whether it’s encouraging neighborhood revitalization, providing communities with identities that are unique and exciting, or attracting investments from entrepreneurs, the creative sector will continue to help lead the way in shaping Michigan’s unparalleled quality of life."  

Mayor Don Plusquellic received the 2014 Public Leadership in the Arts Award for Local Arts Leadership for cities with a population of 100,000 or more. Plusquellic has served as Mayor of Akron, OH for more than 27 years and directs city contributions of over $1 million annually to the performing and visual arts in a city of 200,000. During the Mayor’s tenure, Akron has supported the arts with direct contributions in excess of $8 million, capital contributions of $10 million, and loan guarantees of $18 million.  Even as government budgets were decimated by the Great Recession, Mayor Plusquellic maintained annual contributions to performing arts programs—the ballet, the Akron Symphony and the Akron Art Museum.

Dubuque, Iowa Mayor Roy Buol received the 2014 Public Leadership in the Arts Award for Local Arts Leadership for cities with a population of less than 100,000. Under the leadership of Mayor Buol, the arts and culture have enjoyed a tremendous resurgence as a result of his consistent advocacy of arts and cultural initiatives for the city. Since he assumed office in 1995, he distributed $2.3 million to arts and cultural groups since 2005 for operating and project support, as well as for a public art project. Former budger for the arts had been zero. Upon taking office, Mayor Buol also established an Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission.

Read the full press release

Read an ARTSBlog post by our Senior Director of State and Local Government Affairs, Jay Dick.