WHEREAS, Washington State is blessed with a vibrant arts and cultural heritage that entertains, challenges, and uplifts our community and helps define Washington's character and attraction; and
     WHEREAS, Ben Moore established himself as an outstanding leader and organizer in the arts and cultural community, his genuine passion for the arts and artists and his spirit of camaraderie and continual encouragement influencing over two generations of his colleagues in Washington and across the country; and
     WHEREAS, Ben Moore operated Seattle Repertory Theatre with no accumulated deficit in 26 of 27 years as Managing Director and spearheaded an endowment campaign which eventually raised over 15 million dollars, making it one of the most consistently financially stable arts organizations in the country and allowing it to sustain artistic excellence through challenging economic times, including the Great Recession; and
     WHEREAS, Ben Moore also lead Seattle Repertory Theatre through compliance for a National Arts Stabilization grant, two Wallace Foundation grants, and the fund-raising for and construction of the Leo Kreielsheimer Theatre, a $10 million, 282-seat second theatre space; and
     WHEREAS, Under Ben Moore's leadership, the Seattle Repertory Theatre received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, awarded to an arts organization that has displayed a continuous level of artistic achievement contributing to the growth of theatre nationally; and
     WHEREAS, Ben Moore has established himself as an exceptional collaborator, having led a consortium of Seattle theatres in producing Peter Brook's Hamlet, organized a consortium of five local theatres to develop technological advances in customer relationship management, and been instrumental in the building of the Cultural Resource Collective, a community database that aggregates patrons from more than two dozen arts and cultural organizations; and
     WHEREAS, Ben Moore has served two terms on the Washington State Arts Commission and served as the chair of the Seattle Arts Commission, a member of the boards of the Theatre Communications Group and the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, a peer panelist and evaluator for the NEA, and a consultant for The Bush Foundation in Minneapolis. He is also a member of the Executive Committee for the Cultural Access Fund Coalition, and was honored with an award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts at ArtsFund's 25th Annual Celebration;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate commend Ben Moore for his outstanding accomplishments as managing director of the Seattle Repertory Theatre, his contributions to the arts, and his dedication to promoting high ideals and excellence in his community.