Richard J. Deasy, a Pittsburgh native and retiring director of Arts Education Partnership, has received the first of what will be an annual award named for him and given to an individual who has exhibited outstanding leadership in advancing arts education.

The National Endowment for the Arts, the U.S. Department of Education, the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies cooperated in creating the award to honor the work of Mr. Deasy. The inaugural award was presented to him June 24 in Washington, D.C.; awardees will receive an artwork deemed appropriate to the recipient, with the award administered by the AEP.

Formed in 1994, AEP is a coalition of more than 100 arts, education, business, philanthropic and government organizations that demonstrate the role of the arts in the learning and development of children and in the improvement of America's schools.

Mr. Deasy, who is retiring as director of AEP, also was honored by NEA chairman Dana Gioia with a Chairman's Award for Distinguished Service.