MIAMI, Jan. 5, 2001 -- World-renowned producer, arranger and musician Quincy Jones will be presented with the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts' (NFAA) inaugural "Ted Arison Award" at "An Affair of the Arts" Performance and Gala, Saturday, January 13, at the Wyndham Miami- Biscayne Bay Hotel. The event is part of NFAA's 20-year anniversary celebration.

The award is named for the late Ted Arison, visionary entrepreneur, founder of Carnival Cruise Lines and philanthropist, who with his wife Lin established NFAA in 1981. The Ted Arison Award is to be given annually to an individual who has had a significant influence on the development of young American artists. The award, an original sculpture created by past NFAA Arts Recognition and Talent Search (ARTS) winner Kevin Berlin, carries a $10,000 donation to the recipient's arts organization or charity of choice.

"Quincy Jones is an excellent choice for the first-ever Ted Arison Award. Not only is he a multi-faceted entertainer, composer and producer but his name is synonymous in the entertainment industry for working with young artists," said Dr. William H. Banchs, NFAA president. "His efforts to develop young talent have truly made a difference in young artists' lives."

The presentation of the Ted Arison Award will be one of the many highlights of "An Affair of the Arts," NFAA's annual fundraiser, which will also include live performances by young musicians, dancers and vocalists and the presentation of the "2001 Coca-Cola Foundation Distinguished Teachers in the Arts Award."

"An Affair of the Arts" will also serve to pay tribute to the Arisons, as well as current and former NFAA board members, for more than two decades of service to the organization. "An Affair of the Arts" also culminates "ARTS Week 2001," a week-long series of national talent showcases, master classes and workshops for the 125 winners of NFAA's Arts Recognition and Talent Search (ARTS) program, each of whom will be recognized at the event.

ABOUT NFAA Since its inception in 1981, NFAA has continued Ted and Lin Arison's vision of identifying exceptionally talented artists and nurturing their talent through various education and professional development initiatives.

Over the past 20 years, more than 128,000 aspiring young artists from across the U.S. have applied to NFAA's ARTS program. ARTS has awarded about $4 million in cash awards to approximately 8,000 winners, many of whom are continuing their artistic pursuits to build successful professional careers. ARTS alumni include Grammy-nominated singer/actress Vanessa Williams, renowned jazz musician Roy Hargrove and National Book Award nominee Allegra Goodman.

NFAA, through its ARTS program, is also the exclusive nominating body to the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, and it is through NFAA's nomination that the commission selects its 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts each year. During the past two decades, 400 scholars have been named and honored at a medallion ceremony with the President at the White House.

ABOUT QUINCY JONES

A master of musical hybrids, Quincy Jones has integrated pop, soul, hip- hop, jazz, classical and African and Brazilian rhythms into many dazzling and distinctive fusions, encompassing virtually every medium, including records, live performances, movies and television. With a celebrated career spanning more than four decades, Jones is a 26-time Grammy award winner (second on the all-time list) and has been nominated an astonishing 77 times, the most in the history of the award.

As the producer and conductor of "We Are the World" -- the best-selling single of all-time -- and numerous albums, including Michael Jackson's "Thriller," the top-selling record of all time, Jones stands as one the most successful and admired creative artist/executives in the entertainment world.

In addition to numerous musical accomplishments, Jones's multi-faceted career includes a variety of other entertainment ventures. He was the co- producer with Steven Spielberg of the 11-time Oscar nominated motion picture "The Color Purple" and the executive producer of the NBC-TV hit sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air." Additionally, Jones is the founder of VIBE magazine. Through his company The Quincy Jones Media Group, Jones is currently developing various projects for film, television and the Internet.

Tickets are still available for "An Affair of the Arts." Individual gala tickets are $500 and $1,000, while tables of 10 can be purchased for $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000. The gala reception is hosted by Champagne Laurent-Perrier. Gala tickets can be obtained by calling Clare Keane Banchs at 305/377-1140, ext. 14.

Arts Recognition and Talent Search (ARTS) is a program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA). NFAA's mission is to identify emerging artists and assist them at critical junctures in their educational and professional development, and to raise the appreciation for and support of the arts in American society. The ARTS program is sponsored, in part, by Ashland Inc., Bank of America, Carnival Cruise Lines, The Coca-Cola Foundation, International Association of Jazz Educators, Music for Youth Foundation, and Post-it(R) Notes. ARTS Week 2001 is made possible, in part, with support from American Airlines and AT&T, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Mayor and the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners.