COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Americans for the Arts presented Betty Plumb, executive director of the South Carolina Arts Alliance, the 2007 Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award by at its annual meeting June 3 in Las Vegas.
The award honors Plumb for dramatically affecting the political landscape in South Carolina through her arts advocacy efforts. Under her direction since 1994, the Alliance has become the state’s leading arts policy, advocacy and service organization with an expanding base of informed supporters of the arts at the state and federal level.
"Betty’s extraordinary advocacy efforts have impacted the arts on various levels-from local to national," said South Carolina Arts Commission Executive Director Suzette Surkamer. “She not only informs legislators and businesses about the impact that the arts has on our state, but also teaches others how to demonstrate the importance of the arts in their communities and schools.”
Plumb worked as project director of grants for the Alliance from 1990-1994. She served a two-year term that ended in 2001 as president of the State Arts Advocacy League of America, a national service organization for statewide advocacy agencies. She also served as president of the National Community Arts Network, a statewide association of arts service providers that teaches arts leaders to how to advocate.
The South Carolina Arts Alliance (www.artsonline.org) is a statewide assembly that represents the interest of all arts disciplines, arts organizations, educators, arts administrators, artists, business and individuals. The Alliance serves as a technical assistance service provider and resource for local and statewide arts administrators, providing subsidies, workshops, and consultancies in the field of arts management and leadership development.
Americans for the Arts
Americans for the Arts (www.americansforthearts.org) is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With offices in Washington, DC, and New York City, it has a record of more than 45 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.
About SCAC
The South Carolina Arts Commission is the state agency charged with creating a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their location or circumstances. Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission focuses on increasing public participation in the arts by providing services, grants and leadership initiatives in three areas: arts education, community arts development and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the Arts Commission is funded by the state of South Carolina and by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit www.SouthCarolinaArts.com or call (803) 734-8696.
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