Sheldon Whitehouse Gets National Arts Award
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts, in conjunction with The United States Conference of Mayors, has presented the 2011 National Award for Congressional Arts Leadership to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. The award, which recognizes distinguished public service on behalf of the arts, was presented yesterday at the Congressional Arts Kick Off during Arts Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill.
"Senator Whitehouse has been an extraordinary leader on Capitol Hill for the arts," said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "His dedication and hard work for the arts in the Senate is invaluable not only to his home state but to citizens nationwide. We are very pleased to honor and recognize his extraordinary dedication to advancing the arts for all Americans.”
Recognized for support on national and local levels
Whitehouse was selected to receive the award because of his steadfast commitment to the arts, for his support of the National Endowment for the Arts and his service on the National Council on the Arts, which gives him a unique perspective into the role the federal government can play in supporting the nonprofit arts throughout the country. Whitehouse has been credited with maintaining an excellent arts record in the Senate, including votes, co-sponsorship of legislation and membership in the Senate Cultural Caucus. The Senator is also recognized for his efforts in supporting the arts on behalf of Rhode Island.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“The arts support thousands of jobs in Rhode Island, and are an important part of our American way of life,” said Whitehouse. “I’m honored to receive this award from Americans for the Arts and will continue working to help our arts communities thrive.”
Esteemed company for Whitehouse
The National Award for Congressional Arts Leadership is part of a series of Public Leadership in the Arts Awards given annually by Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors since 1997.
“Each year, we honor those leaders who have significantly advanced the arts through public service,” said US Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran. “His leadership on the arts in the Senate has been a modern day ‘profile in courage.’"
Previous recipients of the Congressional Arts Leadership Award include:
- 2010 Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA)
- 2009 Representative John Lewis (GA)
- 2008 Senator Patrick Leahy (VT)
- 2007 Representative Betty McCollum (MN)
- 2006 Representative Jim Leach (IA)
- 2005 Representative Christopher Shays (CT)
- 2004 Representative David Obey (WI)
- 2003 Senator Thad Cochran (MS)
- 2002 Representative Steve Horn (CA)
- 2001 Representative Norm Dicks (WA)
- 2000 Senator Robert Bennett (UT) and Representative Nancy Johnson (CT)
- 1999 Senator Edward M. Kennedy (MA) and Representative Michael Castle (DE)
- 1998 Representative Louise M. Slaughter (NY) and Senator Slade Gorton (WA)
- 1997 Representative Rick Lazio (NY) and Senator James M. Jeffords (VT)
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