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For Immediate Release

Diane Mataraza Longtime Advocate for Local Arts Agencies

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Americans for the Arts is pleased to present the eighth annual Selina Roberts Ottum Award to Diane Mataraza, executive director of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Foundation, and the former director of the Local Arts Agencies Program at the National Endowment for the Arts. The award, presented today at the annual meeting of Americans for the Arts in Denver, Colo., recognizes the achievements of an individual who has made a meaningful contribution to the arts through local arts leadership.

Americans for the Arts is the national service organization for community-based arts agencies and advocates dedicated to increasing public and private resources for the arts. The Selina Robert Ottum Award was named in memory of Ottum, who served on Americans for the Arts' Board of Directors from 1983 through 1988 and as its President from 1984 to 1986.

"The Selina Roberts Ottum Award honors the extraordinary efforts and energy of those working to make their community a better place through the arts," said Americans for the Arts President and CEO Bob Lynch. "Over the years, Diane has been a dedicated advocate for cultural programs that use the arts to benefit the community at large. As head of the NARAS Foundation, her heart and soul remain dedicated to community arts development, and she has brought her admirable sense of partnership to her work in music education and outreach."

"Like Selina Ottum, Diane Mataraza has the vision, dedication and creative spirit that inspires each of us striving for community cultural change," Lynch added.

Mataraza was appointed as director of the NARAS Foundation in January 1997 by NARAS President and CEO Michael Greene. The Foundation supports the mission of NARAS, which sponsors the GRAMMY Awards and serves as the nexus between the recording industry and the artistry that drives it. Prior to this position, Mataraza oversaw $4 million in grants from the National Endowment for the Arts to local arts agencies, providing technical assistance and access to community cultural programs. Mataraza was formerly the Executive Director of the Alliance of New York State Arts Councils, the largest statewide association of arts service organizations in the U.S.

"Diane's vision, intelligence, honesty, sense of humor, courage and unwavering commitment have shown her to be a true leader in every sense of the word," said Anne Katz, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Assembly of Local Arts Agencies, who, together with Wisconsin Arts Board Executive Director George Tzougros nominated Mataraza for the award. "The community arts field has been lucky to have her."

Mataraza holds a Bachelor of Music Education, cum laude, from the School of Music at Ithaca College, an MA from New York University and a certificate in Association Management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.