By Houston Cofield - The Daily News -

The 2011 Michael Newton Award was presented to Susan Schadt, president and CEO of ArtsMemphis, by Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit organization for advancing the arts. The award has been given annually since 1991 and recognizes exemplary leadership skills and extraordinary dedication to supporting the arts through a united arts fund. Schadt, who took her position at ArtsMemphis in 2002, received her award at the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention in San Diego.

“Her visionary approach and unwavering commitment to advancing the arts has benefited thousands of people working in and participating in the arts throughout Memphis and Shelby County,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts.

In the 2010 fiscal year, ArtsMemphis allocated more than 95 percent of its annual campaign, in addition to enhancement funds from the historic Memphis for the Arts endowment campaign, to award $4.3 million to the Memphis arts community.

Schadt currently serves on the Riverfront Development Corp. board of directors and on the Advisory Council of the Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Memphis.