Center for the Arts Executive Director Thomas Burrows to receive 2005 Pathfinders Award

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Alliance for Education and the Niagara Frontier Industry Education Council has selected Thomas Burrows executive director of the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts, to receive this year's Pathfinders Award. Burrows and other awardees will be honored on May 12 at the 2005 Pathfinders reception at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel. The award honors educators and businesspeople that create pathways between students and business.

Burrows has served as executive director of the Center for the Arts since 1996. During this time he has implemented numerous programs that introduce thousands of local children to the performing arts, including the center's "School Time Adventure Series." The center's transportation stipend program helps pay the cost of buses so that children in underserved communities may attend these events. A third initiative, visiting artist outreach, provides lectures and demonstrations by nationally recognized artists directly to schools.

Prior to his appointment at the Center for the Arts, his distinguished career in the performing arts began in New York, as production manager at Circle in the Square, while studying directing with Jose Quintero. He later served as general manager for The Establishment Theatre Company. Other career achievements include: managing director of theatre operations at Yale University School of Drama; general manager of the Shaw Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake; general manager of the O'Keefe Centre (currently Hummingbird Theatre) in Toronto and prior to coming to UB, general manager of Hamilton Place, Hamilton, Ontario. He is currently president of the board for the Irish Classical Theatre Company.

He is also affiliated with: Artpark & Company (Board of Directors), Shaw Festival (Governor's Council), the Arts Council of Buffalo and Erie County, Asian Studies Advisory Board, Film Advisory Board of Buffalo and Erie County and Canadian Studies Advisory Board. Burrows is a member of ATPAM, the International Association of Auditorium Managers and the International Society of Performing Arts Foundation.