• Mission & Governance
• Services Overview
• How to Get Involved
• Standing Committees
• NCSL Foundation

• Issue Areas: A-Z
• State-Federal Relations
• NCSL Standing Committees
• News from D.C. and the States

• About State Legislatures
• Elections, Campaigns & Redistricting
• NCSL's StateConnect Directory
• Web Sites

• Online Guide to NCSL Services
• Staff Sections and Networks
• Meetings & Professional Development
• Staff Directories

• Meetings Calendar
• Online Registration
• Meetings Home Page
• Legislative Summit

• Bookstore
• State Legislatures Magazine
• NCSL's StateConnect Directory

New State Legislator Arts Award

Posted January 4, 2007

NCSL is pleased to announce the creation of an outstanding legislator in the arts award in partnership with Americans for the Arts.

The first award was presented as part of NCSL's 2006 Fall Forum in San Antonio, Texas. In the future, this annual award will presented at NCSL Annual Meetings, starting this summer in Boston. For more information about the award and to nominate a state legislator, visit Americans for the Arts website.

The winner of the 2006 Public Leadership in the Arts Award for a State Legislator is Rep. Sheryl Allen, Republican from Utah.

Below are some highlights on her accomplishments and support for the arts:

• Rep Allen is the former chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) Economic Development, Trade and Cultural Affairs Committee. It was under her leadership last March that the committee voted to approve Americans for the Arts partnership with NCSL.
• She was nominated for our arts award by the Utah Arts Council for her dedication and support for the arts, especially in the area of arts education.
• Rep Allen served as the co-chair of the Utah House Human Resources and Economic Development Appropriations sub-committee where she showed strong support for the arts including a direct appropriation of $422,461 for the Davis School District Foundation.
• She currently serves as a board member of the Utah Humanities Council and the Utah Zoo.
• She is a strong supporter of arts education initiatives serving on the Utah Higher Education Appropriations Sub-committee. She is also active in the Davis School District, serving as the director of their foundation, and has worked to obtain sponsorship dollars to promote a variety of educational activities.