In 1987, Raymond D. Nasher, Dallasdeveloper and a leading international philanthropist and art collector, met with the Dallas Citizens Council, composed of the most powerful CEOs in the region.

They determined Dallas would have better opportunity for becoming a world-class business city with parallel growth in the cultural community.  Mr. Nasher was charged with developing a method to increase corporate giving to arts and cultural organizations inDallas.

Using the model developed by David Rockefeller in 1967, Nasher created a new agency.  Business Council for the Arts opened in June 1988 (as Dallas Business Committee for the Arts), an affiliate of National Business Committee for the Arts, with 50 corporate members and Patricia A. Porter as the founding director.  Ms. Porter served in that role, and later as CEO, until her retirement in 2009, when Katherine Wagner was selected for the position. Mr. Nasher was the founding chairman and remained in that role until his passing, March 2007.
He is succeeded by his daughter, Nancy A. Nasher, as Founder’s Chair.

Bill Hindman, AT&T regional vice president, was the first chairman of the board, followed by Al Meitz, managing partner, Booz, Allen & Hamilton; Ken Russo, VP international sourcing,JCPenney; Neil O’Brien, founding partner, Gardere & Wynne; Doug Adams, general manager, KXAS-Channel 5; Bruce Piller, partner, KPMG; Bob Jordan, currently Partner In Charge – Middle East Offices for Baker Botts L.L.P.; Bob Stewart, senior VP strategic planning/marketing, Centex Corporation; Donna Epps, national technology partner, Deloitte; Noel Lee, worldwide partner/Dallas office leader, Mercer Human Resource Consulting; and David Russell, David Russell, vice president of external affairs for the southwest region of Verizon Communications. Business Council for the Arts’ Chairman of the Board of Directors, 2009-2012, is Tom Leatherbury, Partner, Vinson & Elkins.

Throughout the organization’s 23-year history, major contributions have been made by member companies to ensure the development ofNorth Texasas a regional cultural center. These corporate leaders understand the advantage of supporting the arts industry as a major component of a successful region. Equally, it is recognized that development of a creative workforce keepsNorth Texason the leading edge of business.

From cultural tourism initiatives to project matchmaking, Business Council for the Arts collaborates with business and government decision makers to foster effective arts management, volunteer leadership and broader arts investments. BCA works for the business community to strengthen the arts and cultural sector in North Texas.

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Business Council for the Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and membership is tax-deductible. JOIN NOW!