Americans for the Arts, America’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, and The United States Conference of Mayors, today announced that Grammy Award®-Winning Musicians John Legend and The Roots will receive the 2013 Citizen Artist Awards. In addition, Santa Fe, NM Mayor David Coss, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley will receive the 2013 Public Leadership in the Arts Awards.

The awards honor elected officials and artists who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the advancement of the arts. Recipients will receive the honor on Friday, January 18 at The United States Conference of Mayors’ 81st annual winter meeting in Washington, D.C.
 
Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors have given out the awards annually since 1997.

“John Legend and The Roots have been extraordinary advocates for the arts and arts education, showing that a quality arts education is the key to arming the workforce of  the future with the skills they need to succeed: creativity and innovation,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “Mayors Coss and Landrieu and Governor O’Malley have all demonstrated immense dedication to the development of arts programming within their respective communities and state. Their extraordinary leadership and commitment to cultural initiatives and advancement of the arts showcases the key role the arts play in spurring economic growth while simultaneously enhancing quality of life.”

 “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. 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,” Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, named Clayton Lord as its new Vice President of Local Arts Advancement.  In this role, Lord will be responsible for developing and executing all Americans for the Arts programs and services that strengthen and validate local arts agencies and the many other individuals and organizations that advance arts, culture and artists at the local level.

“Clay’s vast experience working in the local arts service field will be a tremendous asset to Americans for the Arts,” said Robert L. Lynch. “With his addition to the Americans for the Arts team, we are poised to increase the knowledge, visibility and engagement of the local arts agency field as well as the organizations and individuals engaged in local arts development.”

"I believe that a great nation requires the reflection and celebration that great art provides, and I look forward to working with the Local Arts Advancement team to ensure that the great research, digital convening and multiple national conferences that Americans for the Arts generates each year are as impactful as possible to the many arts agencies, presenting and producing organizations, funding bodies and artists that make up the vibrant arts sector in this country," said Lord.

Before signing on with Americans for the Arts, Lord served for five years as the director of communications and audience development for Theatre Bay Area, one of the largest regional arts service organizations in the United States.  There, he oversaw marketing, communications, audience development initiatives and research and business development. During his tenure, he spearheaded several research initiatives that investigated major issue areas in the American arts field, including impact measurement, diversity, strategy, advocacy, public goodwill, perception and the psychology of artsgoing, including the landmark publication “Counting New Beans: Intrinsic Impact and the Value of Art.” Prior to his work at Theatre Bay Area, Lord spent four years at ZSpace Studio in San Francisco where he oversaw all marketing operations for organization including budgeting, design, publicity, press relations and audience development.

Lord was a founding member of Project Audience and sat on the advisory committees for the Americans for the Arts’ National Arts Marketing Project Conference, the Association of Performing Arts Service Organizations conference, the ATHENA project and the Bay Area Cultural Asset Map. In addition, he was named one of the “Fifty Most Powerful and Influential People in the Nonprofit Arts” in 2012 by Barry Hessenius on his Barry’s Blog.

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 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.