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President Bush Nominates DC Arts Patron Stephen Porter
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Washington, D.C. -- President George W. Bush has announced his intent to nominate Stephen Porter, Senior Counsel at Arnold and Porter law firm and a former Chair of the Washington Performing Arts Society, to serve on the National Council on the Arts, the advisory body of the National Endowment for the Arts. Porter's nomination will be sent to the Senate for confirmation.
"I am delighted to have Stephen Porter nominated for the National Council on the Arts,” said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. "He has been a fellow who gets things done in Washington, both in the arts and business. The NEA values both his cultural and entrepreneurial expertise."
The National Council on the Arts advises the NEA Chairman on programs and policies. Council members review and make recommendations to the Chairman on grant applications, funding program guidelines, and national initiatives. Members are chosen for their widely recognized knowledge of the arts, their expertise or profound interest in the arts, and their established record of distinguished service or achievement in the arts. The Council consists of 14 private citizens and six ex officio Members of Congress.
When confirmed, Porter will replace outgoing Council member David Gelernter. Porter's term on the Council will expire in 2012.
The Senate previously confirmed six new members to the National Council on the Arts in December 2006: Ben Donenberg, Chico Hamilton, Joan Israelite, Charlotte Power Kessler, Bret Lott, and Frank Price. The next National Council on the Arts meeting will take place in Washington, DC on March 21-23, 2007.
Stephen Porter Biography
Stephen Porter, Senior Counsel at Arnold and Porter LLP, has been actively involved with the Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) for more than 20 years, including serving as Chairman of the Board from 1994-1996. Since 1999, Porter has served as Chairman of the WPAS Endowment Committee, and he also was a key sponsor of the 2006-07 Season Opening Celebration at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
During his tenure with WPAS, Porter has been a driving force behind WPAS Concerts in Schools program, which brings artists and musicians to underserved schools to teach arts appreciation. He also has been widely involved in the WPAS Embassy Adoption Program, which fosters relationships between embassies and schools to help children learn about the arts and cultures of other countries.
Porter is a former Board member of the Downtown Arts Committee and Cultural Development Corporation. Involved in numerous other civic organizations including the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Mayor's Commission on Adult Literacy, and the Washington Chapter of the Anti-Defamation League, Porter has used these connections to actively foster partnerships among the region's business, education, and arts communities.
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National Endowment for the Arts · an independent federal agency
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20506