Baltimore, MD — June 24, 2010 — Americans for the Arts presents the 2010 Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award to Anne Katz, executive director of Arts Wisconsin. The award will be presented on June 27 at the Americans for the Arts Half-Century Summit in Baltimore. The award honors an individual who has dramatically affected the political landscape through arts advocacy efforts at the state level. The Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award is presented by the State Arts Action Network of Americans for the Arts.

Anne Katz has served as executive director of Arts Wisconsin, a statewide community arts action, service, and development organization, since 1995. Arts Wisconsin is dedicated to nurturing, serving, promoting, and advocating for the arts in Wisconsin and all its communities. Under Katz’s leadership, Arts Wisconsin was awarded the 2004 Governor’s Award in Support of the Arts from the Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts She serves on the board of the Wisconsin Public Radio Association, Wisconsin Nonprofits Association and the Wisconsin Downtown Action Council, and is a former chair and vice chair of the State Arts Action Network Council, a program of Americans for the Arts.

Katz is being honored for her advancing Arts Wisconsin’s agenda—the importance art and creativity for all residents—throughout the state. She is an effective advocate and lobbyist, tracking and influencing state and federal policies in the arts and arts education. Katz has initiated many strategic partnerships that link the arts with business, education, political and civic issues throughout Wisconsin. During her tenure at Arts Wisconsin she has nurtured more than 150 emerging arts organizations and programs in Wisconsin, guiding them from mere ideas to full-fledged operational nonprofits.

“Anne Katz is a tireless advocate and outstanding leader for the arts and arts education in Wisconsin. Her commitment to Wisconsin’s arts groups, working artists, and arts enthusiasts is tremendous and this award is more than well-deserved,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With offices in Washington, DC, and New York City, 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. Visit us online at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

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