In response to the South Carolina General Assembly's decisive action to override Gov. Nikki Haley's line-item veto of funding for the South Carolina Arts Commission, Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, issued the following statement:

The 2011 winner of the Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Competition have been announced. The competition was created to recognize, encourage, and reward young artistic talent at the high school level.

Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts, announced today that it is presenting its 2011 American Express Emerging Leader Award to Angela Harris, founder and executive director of Dance Canvas, Inc., an Atlanta-based nonprofit that presents professional dance performances showcasing emerging choreographers.  Given annually since 2006 and sponsored in 2011 and 2012 by American Express, the award honors exceptional young arts professionals who demonstrate exemplary leadership, innovative thinking and a commitment to advancing the arts in their local, state or national communities. Recipients of the Award are selected by a panel of outside experts. Ms. Harris will receive the American Express Emerging Leader Award on June 16 at the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention in San Diego.

Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts, announced today that it is presenting the 2011 Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award to William P. Blair, legislative counsel for Ohio Citizens for the Arts. Presented by the State Arts Action Network (SAAN) of Americans for the Arts, the award honors an individual whose arts advocacy efforts have dramatically affected the political landscape at the state level. Mr. Blair will receive his award on June 16 at the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention in San Diego.