Contact: Arts Wisconsin, 608 255 8316 | akatz@artswisconsin.org
Americans for the Arts, the national service organization advancing the arts in America, has presented the 2010 Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award to Anne Katz, executive director of Arts Wisconsin. The award was presented on June 27 at the Americans for the Arts Half-Century Summit in Baltimore, MD. 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.
anne6272010Anne Katz has served as executive director of Arts Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s premier 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 has been honored for her work advancing Arts Wisconsin’s agenda—the importance, impact, value and benefits of the arts and creativity for all residents—throughout the state. She is an effective, pro-active advocate, tracking and influencing state and federal policies in the arts and arts education. Katz has initiated and advanced 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 and advised hundreds of arts, arts education and creative economy organizations and programs in Wisconsin, on issues ranging from strategic planning to effective relationships with decision-makers to fundraising strategies.
“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.
“The Board of Directors of Arts Wisconsin congratulates Anne for this national leadership award,” said Peter Crawford, President of the Board of Arts Wisconsin. “We’re honored that Americans for the Arts has recognized her dedication and hard work for the organization and for the arts on the local level throughout the state.”
