William J. Ivey, newly named chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, wins high praise from arts administrators for his strong advocacy and innovative leadership in the arts over many years.

"As the long-time administrator of a highly successful regional cultural organization, Bill Ivey understands the vital role regional arts agencies play in building this country through the arts," said Wayne Lawson, executive director of the Ohio Arts Council. "He promises to be an effective leader, lobbyist and policymaker, and I look forward to working with him."

Ivey, nominated by President William Clinton as the seventh chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May. He succeeds Jane Alexander, whose term as NEA chairman ended in October 1997.

"William Ivey possesses a deep understanding of and commitment to American creativity," said President Clinton. "His demonstrated leadership in the nonprofit sector and the entertainment industry, combined with his extensive experience with the National Endowment for the Arts, makes him a tremendous asset to the agency and to American cultural life."

"Strategically, the confirmation of Bill Ivey to head the NEA comes at a good time as Congress prepares to take up the agency's appropriations," said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "His fresh ideas and new perspectives will serve us well during an important time for the arts in America."

Ivey, a Detroit native, is the first NEA chairman who has developed and run a nonprofit arts organization. He has been director of the Country Music Foundation in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1971. The foundation operates the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, manages historic properties and publishes a respected journal. As the foundation's leader, Ivey encouraged the investment of public dollars to promote cultural tourism, advance arts education and increase community resources.

The new chairman's involvement with the National Endowment for the Arts dates from 1975. He has chaired or served on 15 NEA grant panels. Since 1994, Ivey has been a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. He was a major contributor to the committee's report Creative America, an analysis of American cultural life. Ivey has been a forceful voice on many arts policy issues.

The NEA is a federal grant making agency created by Congress in 1965 to support the visual, literary, design and performing arts to benefit all Americans. Its mission is to foster excellence, diversity and vitality in the arts, and to broaden public access to the arts.