Tuesday, September 18, 2012

press release iconContact:
Catherine Brandt Vacovsky
202-712-2054
[email protected]

Turley to be Honored on October 4th at an Evening Gala in New York City

Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, today announced that Ernst & Young Global Chairman and CEO James S. Turley is the 2012 recipient of the BCA Leadership Award. The award was established in 1993 by the Business Committee for the Arts, now a division of Americans for the Arts, to recognize individuals whose vision, commitment and leadership champion the arts.

"Tomorrow’s workforce must act confidently, communicate effectively and think creatively – all qualities that can be enhanced through arts and theatre education," said Turley. "So often, the seeds for these critical skills are planted in childhood through exposure to the arts and live theater. It's my personal hope that Ernst & Young's support sparks more interest in the value that theatre and arts education brings to children, corporations and communities, while inspiring others to give back to their communities in their own way."

"We are honored to recognize Jim for his dedicated commitment to ensuring the arts in America continue to thrive," said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "His continued devotion to investing in the arts demonstrates his knowledge of the myriad benefits businesses glean when partnering with arts organizations. He knows that investing in the arts not only improves community quality of life, but also helps attract and retain a skilled workforce and build new markets."

With a long-standing commitment to theater and arts education, Jim has been a dedicated leader since the beginnings of his career at Ernst & Young. Jim is actively engaged with one of the nation’s leading theatre associations, the National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF), serving as the Chairman of the Board for the past six years. In early 2012 at the Annual Chairman’s Awards Gala, NCTF launched its Impact Creativity campaign – a $5 million fund-raising effort to support theatre education programs in 19 American cities impacting more than 500,000 youth – with a launch gift of $200,000 from Ernst & Young LLP and its partners and principals.

Impact Creativity aligns squarely with Turley’s and his company’s beliefs that the next generation needs varied experiences and quality education to succeed. The initiative brings together theatres, arts education experts and individuals to help more than 500,000 children and youth, most of them disadvantaged, succeed through the arts by sustaining the theatre arts education programs threatened by today’s fiscal climate.  Thanks to Turley, Ernst & Young, Clear Channel Outdoor, Aol.com and Creative Mobile Technologies, Impact Creativity has just concluded an unprecedented awareness campaign promoting theatre education that received nearly 40 million impressions.

For the 25th Anniversary of STAGES ST. LOUIS, a not-for-profit musical theatre company and performing arts academy, Jim and his wife Lynne Turley, STAGES Board Trustee, gifted the company with a $250,000 Challenge Grant. Being the largest operational grant in STAGES history, it supported the development of future productions, and theatre education and outreach initiatives. Each new and increased gift given to STAGES during its anniversary year was matched by the Turley Challenge, up to $250,000.

Jim is being honored alongside this year’s BCA Hall of Fame inductee, The Boeing Company, and The BCA 10: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America, which recognize 10 U.S. companies for their exceptional commitment to the arts through grants, local partnerships, volunteer programs, matching gifts, sponsorships and board membership. The 2012 BCA 10 honorees are:

  • Alltech, Inc., Nicholasville, KY
  • Bank of America, Charlotte, NC
  • Chaves Consulting, Inc., Baker City, OR
  • Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Earl Swensson Associates, Inc., Nashville, TN
  • First Community Bank, Corpus Christi, TX
  • Golden Artist Colors, Inc., New Berlin, NY
  • Jackson and Company, Houston, TX
  • Masco Corporation, Taylor, MI
  • Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg, FL

The BCA 10 Awards, BCA Hall of Fame Award and BCA Leadership Award will be presented by Americans for the Arts on October 4 at a black-tie gala at the Central Park Boathouse in New York City.

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 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.