NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GETTY TRUST IN CONVERSATION WITH TOWN HALL

NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GETTY TRUST IN CONVERSATION WITH TOWN HALL

Los Angeles, CA ??" Wednesday, May 9, 2007 ??" James N. Wood, President and Chief Executive Officer of the J. Paul Getty Trust will converse with Town Hall Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at The Regency Club. Angelenos will learn about Wood???s vision for the Getty???s role in our community, and how the arts contribute to quality of life and the economic strength of Los Angeles.

The J. Paul Getty Trust is the nation???s third largest foundation. Discussing its responsibility to the community Wood said, ??????there is one word in the Getty mission statement, talking about the visual arts and their capacity to build a more civil society. If the Getty can???t contribute on that level, then I don???t think it is providing the leadership that it ought to and really must. Our society is, I think, in need of the kind of civility that the arts can bring.???

Wood joined the J. Paul Getty Trust in February 2007. Prior to his current position, he served for 25 years as Director and President of The Art Institute of Chicago. He was a member of the National Council on the Arts and is currently the President of The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts.

Throughout its history, Town Hall has welcomed speakers on the topics of philanthropy and the arts including Wallis Annenberg, Vice President, The Annenberg Foundation, and Dana Gioia, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts, in conversation with actor Annette Bening.

This past March, Town Hall and members of the creative industries along with The Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa and Architect Frank Gehry, met at the Getty Center to introduce CREATIVE LA ^SM, a public/private initiative celebrating the creative industries in Southern California.

For 70 years, Town Hall Los Angeles has promoted civic participation, pride, and awareness. As a nonpartisan and nonprofit forum, we encourage a public discussion on issues of regional, national, and international significance. To be informed about issues impacting Los Angeles, join Town Hall.

All members of the media are invited to cover this event.

**Please credit Town Hall Los Angeles.