The Arts and Culture Commission of the National Association of Counties, in collaboration with the Phoenix Arts and Culture Commission, has presented its annual Arts Advocacy Award to local businessman and community leader, Drew M. Brown.

The award was presented at a luncheon Tuesday, July 20, during the National Association of Counties annual convention at Phoenix Civic Plaza.

Brown was one of several candidates nominated in response to a Call for Nominations distributed by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture to the Valley arts community. The final selection was made by a Phoenix Arts and Culture Commission committee. The commission sought to recognize an individual who has demonstrated exemplary leadership and support of the local arts and cultural community, significantly impacting one or more arts or cultural organizations, or the arts and cultural community in general.

Brown, who is managing director and president of DMB Associates, Inc., a real estate development firm, spent the past year as chair of the Maricopa Regional Arts and Culture Task Force. Funded by The Flinn Foundation, J.W. Kieckhefer Foundation, Margaret T. Morris Foundation and The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, the task force initiative evolved out of the realization that arts and culture is essential to the Valley's economic growth and its ability to be competitive with other U.S. cities in developing a high-skill, high-innovation economy.

As task force chair, Brown convened a group of 30 local leaders from business, government and the arts. From September 2003 through May 2004, Brown led discussions and participated in numerous meetings, community forums and focus groups. The task force published its report in May, confirming the business case for support for the arts and suggesting steps for greater Phoenix to improve its competitive position as a place in which knowledge workers want to live. During the course of the task force's work, Brown authored articles about the process and related issues, and he presented the task force's final summary report at public meetings throughout the Valley. Brown now is leading discussions regarding creation of a new Regional Arts and Cultural Partnership organization to implement the roadmap suggested by the task force.

"When I assumed the chairmanship of the Maricopa Regional Arts and Culture Task Force, I knew arts and culture was important to our quality of life, but I had not realized the full extent of its impact on our region's economic base," said Brown.

In 1994-97, Brown led the capital campaign to construct the Arizona Science Center, raising $20 million to match the city of Phoenix's contribution of land, building and parking.

Brown currently serves as vice president of the board of trustees for the Phoenix Art Museum. He chairs the building committee responsible for working with the city of Phoenix on the museum's major bond-funded expansion project, and also is playing a significant role in the museum's capital and endowment campaign.

The local Arts Advocacy Award is presented at the National Association of Counties annual convention held in different cities throughout the nation. Past recipients of award include actress Victoria Rowell, Philadelphia City Council Member James Kenney, Louisiana State Senator Diana Bajoie, and Karen Spahn, senior development director for the Milwaukee Art Museum.