Albany, NY - February 6, 2014 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the nominations of Gayle King, Eric Latzky, John Lyons, and Crystal McCrary to the New York State Council on the Arts. These nominations require Senate confirmation.

“Gayle, Eric, John and Crystal have devoted their lives to the arts and bring to the table a rich cultural background and decades of expertise," said Governor Cuomo. "With unparalleled experience from the television, film, literature, and music industries, they will use their collective nexus of artistic know-how to help shape and advance the future of arts in New York State."

Gayle King
Gayle King is co-host of “CBS This Morning” and Editor-at-Large of O, the Oprah Magazine. King previously hosted “The Gayle King Show,” a live, weekday television interview program on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network and XM Satellite Radio. Before moving into print and radio, King worked for 18 years as a television news anchor for a CBS affiliate in Hartford, Connecticut, during which period she also hosted her own syndicated daytime program. King has won three Emmys for her work. King graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in psychology and resides in New York City.

Eric Latzky
Eric Latzky is CEO and founder of Culture | Communications, which crafts progressive marketing and public relations strategies. From 2000 to 2012, Latzky served as head of communications of the New York Philharmonic, overseeing media and public relations, image evolution, print and digital content publication, and diplomatic cultivation. Latzky played a major role in the creation and realization of the New York Philharmonic’s historic concert in Pyongyang, North Korea, in 2008. Previously, Latzky held the positions of Director of Communications of The Kitchen Center for Video, Music, Dance, Performance, Film and Literature, and Executive Vice President of the Zeisler Group. In the 1990s, Latzky was the pro-bono public relations co-chair for the artists’ organization Visual AIDS, where he conceived the launch campaigns for the Red Ribbon for AIDS Awareness. Latzky resides in New York City.

John Lyons
John Lyons is a producer on projects for film, television, and the theatre. He is also board chair and founder of Edible Schoolyard/NYC, the New York branch of Alice Waters’ Edible Education project. From 2003 to 2011, Mr. Lyons was the President of Production at Focus Features, overseeing all aspects of production at the studio. During his tenure as president, Lyons shepherded the making of such modern classics as Gus Van Sant’s Milk, Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain, Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers, and Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Lyons previously served as Casting Director at the Sundance Institute’s June Director’s Lab, Lyons/Isaacson, and Playwrights Horizons. Lyons graduated from the University of Michigan and resides in New York City.

Crystal McCrary
Crystal McCrary is an author and a producer of documentaries and feature films. She has written the New York Times best-selling novels Homecourt Advantage (Harper Collins/Avon) and Gotham Diaries (Hyperion). McCrary created and executive produced the documentary series Leading Women and Leading Men for BET and directed and produced a feature-length documentary, Little Ballers, which chronicles the lives and challenges of young basketball players on their journey to the AAU National Championship. She also produced the independent film Dirty Laundry. McCrary began her career practicing entertainment law specializing in theatre production, publishing contracts, and director’s agreements with the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison. McCrary is a graduate of the University of Michigan and American University Washington College of Law.

Aby Rosen, Chair of the New York State Council on the Arts said, “I am honored to welcome these accomplished individuals to the New York State Council on the Arts. Each has demonstrated a commitment to the role of arts, culture and heritage in New York State. Their unique expertise and perspective will be an asset to the Council and the Governor. We are building a great team to push NYSCA to its fullest potential in serving the citizens of the state. ”

About the New York State Council on the Arts
The New York State Council on the Arts (“NYSCA”) is dedicated to preserving and expanding the rich and diverse cultural resources that are and will become the heritage of New York’s citizens. The Council believes in supporting artistic excellence and the creative freedom of artists without censure, the rights of all New Yorkers to access and experience the power of the arts and culture, and the vital contribution the arts make to the quality of life in New York communities. NYSCA strives to achieve its mission through its core grant-making activity and by convening field leaders, providing information and advisory support, and working with partners on special initiatives to achieve mutual goals.