Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
February 1, 2005
Appreciation for Jac Venza
Seven in favor, one absent
Resolved, That the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Expresses Its Deep Appreciation for the Work of
JAC VENZA Arts Impresario Creator, Great Performances Winner, Ralph Lowell Medal
The Board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting recognizes the extraordinary contributions of Jac Venza, whose love of and commitment to the performing arts turned America's living rooms into the greatest performance venue in history.
Week after week, for more than 30 years, Great Performances has been more than our ticket to the opera, the ballet, or the theater; it has been our window into the most transcendent accomplishments of the human spirit. With the shows he created -- which also include Dance in America and Theater in America -- and the shows he oversaw -- like American Masters and Stage on Screen -- Jac Venza showed us that public television could not only educate, and not only inform -- it could inspire.
We celebrate his achievement in making the performing arts accessible to more Americans, and his belief in the taste and judgment of the American people. As he memorably said, "If a program manager feels it won't play in Peoria, it's probably because he underestimates his audience." We are deeply grateful for his confidence in us and for the programs that confidence inspired.
