06/18/2009
Contact:
Liz Bartolomeo
Office: 202.371.2830
press@artsusa.org
Americans for the Arts Presents Emerging Leader Award to Seattle's Randy Engstrom
Seattle, WA — June 18, 2009 — At its annual convention, which kicks off today, Americans for the Arts presented the 2009 Emerging Leader Award to Randy Engstrom, founding director of the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in Seattle. The Emerging Leader Award honors a new and/or young arts leader and recognizes his or her extraordinary work in the field of arts administration. Recipients demonstrate innovative thinking, a commitment to the advancement of the arts, exemplary leadership qualities, and have had a significant effect on their local, state, or national communities.
"Americans for the Arts has been a strong proponent for the advancement of new arts leadership and this award is a reflection of our commitment," said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "Randy exemplifies the qualities needed to lead and advance the arts. His extraordinary work with the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center shows the power the arts have to transform a community."
For more than 10 years, Randy Engstrom has been a passionate and accomplished advocate for the arts and community development. In 2005, he founded the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, a multimedia/multidisciplinary community space that offers youth and community members access to arts, technology, and cultural resources. He established the Arts Leadership Lab, a group born out of the Creative Conversations series, into a network of local arts leaders in Seattle who stay connected and help to build and sustain the region’s arts eco-system.
The Youngstown Cultural Arts Center is a multi-purpose facility dedicated to arts, education, and providing a space for the community to create, converse, and perform. The Cooper Artist Housing at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center includes 36 affordable live/work studios for rent to artists of all disciplines. The Center is part of the The Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA), a private nonprofit organization based in West Seattle dedicated to community engagement.
The Americans for the Arts Emerging Leader Network works to identify and cultivate the next generation of arts leaders in America. It is an ideal way for new leaders to share their interests with others as they continue to develop their skills and their commitment to the arts. The Emerging Leader Program targets professionals who are either new to the field, with up to five years of experience, or are 35 years of age or younger.
Americans for the Arts 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 49 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.
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