Wolf Trap Receives Inaugural Venue of Excellence Award

The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announced today that it has been awarded the inaugural Venue of Excellence award by the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM). These prestigious awards recognize venues that demonstrate excellence in the management and operation of public assembly venues. Wolf Trap was selected in the performing arts category based on four criteria: service to community, team building/professional development, safety and security, and operational excellence. These criteria complement the IAAM Value Statements of integrity, service, safety, education, advocacy, and people first. IAAM is the world's largest professional association, dedicated to issues relevant to the management of public assembly venues.

"The criteria for this award are all directly aligned to Wolf Trap's mission to bring excellent and innovative performing arts programs that enrich, educate and provide enjoyment to diverse audiences," said Terrence Jones, president and CEO of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. "We are honored to be recognized by such an important association and to be in the company of these other excellent venues that have won."

Wolf Trap was one of five Venue of Excellence award winners. Others include Comcast Arena at Everett, Everett, Washington in the Arenas category; Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon in Convention Centers category; PETCO Park, San Diego, California in the Stadiums category; and Stephen C. O'Connell Center - University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida in the Education Venue category.

"An award committee created criteria that would fairly and objectively score the nominated venues," said Kevin Duvall, Award Review Committee Chair. "A venue that excels not only within its internal development and operations but also in the local community is one worthy of receiving the Venue of Excellence Award. The competition was top of the line."

"As we created this award category we wanted to recognize outstanding venues. These venues have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, perseverance and unwavering commitment of the highest standards to our industry. They are without a doubt most deserving of this recognition. And I heartily thank them all for participating." said IAAM Chairman of the Board, Shura Lindgren-Garnett, CFE. She and Past President Robyn Williams, CFE, created the awards.
IAAM will annually recognize venues which demonstrate excellence in the management and operation of public assembly venues. The Board of Directors looks forward to seeing future venues take the stage to receive this prestigious distinction.

The awards will be presented in Houston, Texas, July 26, 2010 during IAAM's annual conference, Venue Connect.

About the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts
The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts is a non-profit organization founded by Catherine Filene Shouse (1896-1994) that produces and presents a full-range of performance and education programs in the Greater Washington area, as well as nationally and internationally. Wolf Trap is home to three performance venues, the Filene Center-America's National Park for the Performing Arts, The Barns and Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods. The Filene Center, which operates in partnership with the National Park Service, is a 7,028-seat outdoor pavilion that showcases an extensive list of diverse artists, ranging from pop, country, folk and blues to orchestra, dance, theater and opera, as well as multimedia presentations from May through September each year; The Barns operate year round. The Wolf Trap Opera Company is one of America's outstanding resident ensemble programs for young opera singers. Wolf Trap's education programs include the nationally acclaimed Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, scholarships, master classes, and internships. Visit the Wolf Trap Web site at www.wolftrap.org for more information. Terrence D. Jones is president and CEO of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.

About International Association of Assembly Managers
The International Association of Assembly Managers is the world's largest professional association dedicated to issues relevant to the management of public assembly venues. Members of the association manage public assembly venues such as amphitheaters, arenas, auditoriums, convention centers/exhibit halls, performing arts venues, stadiums and university complexes; or provide products, services or attractions to support the industry. IAAM has more than 3,500 members worldwide. More information is available at www.iaam.org.

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