DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY TO MAKE HER FIRST APPEARANCE ON AN OSCAR(R) SHOW

Dame Shirley Bassey will make a special appearance on the Oscars(R), show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today.

"We are thrilled to welcome the legendary Dame Shirley Bassey to our Oscar show," said Zadan and Meron. "Her association with film music is world renowned, and we are proud that she will be making her first Oscar appearance on our telecast."

Bassey is this year celebrating her very own "Diamond Jubilee" with a career spanning over six decades. She has recorded over 44 albums, sold over 135 million records and has sold out concert halls across the world. In June 2012, she was one of a number of esteemed artists, including Elton John, Paul McCartney and Annie Lennox, who performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert. In the United States, Bassey is best known for recording the theme songs for the James Bond films "Goldfinger," "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Moonraker."

Bassey joins a stellar list of previously announced Oscar performers including Adele, Norah Jones and Barbra Streisand; and presenters including "The Avengers" cast members Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo; returning 2011 Oscar winners Jean Dujardin, Christopher Plummer, Octavia Spencer and Meryl Streep; co-stars Mark Wahlberg and Ted; and special guest appearances including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Daniel Radcliffe, Channing Tatum and Charlize Theron.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards - in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners - the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

WILLIAM ROSS TO CONDUCT OSCAR(R) ORCHESTRA

William Ross will conduct the Oscar orchestra for the Academy Awards(R), show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today.

"We are happy to have Bill Ross conduct the Oscar orchestra," said Zadan and Meron. "With a show so rich with music, we are so pleased to have someone as talented as Bill on our team."

Ross, who conducted for the 79th and 83rd Academy Awards(R), is a prolific award-winning composer and arranger whose work encompasses feature films, television and the music recording industry. He has arranged music for artists such as Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Kenny G., Sting, Quincy Jones, Seal, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. The records on which he has worked have sold a total of over 250 million copies in the United States.

Ross has written original scores for such films as "The Tale of Despereaux," "Ladder 49," "Tuck Everlasting" and "My Dog Skip." He also adapted and conducted the score to "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

ABOUT THE ACADEMY

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards - in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners - the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

THE ACADEMY AND GALLERY1988 PRESENT A NEW EXHIBITION "FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION"

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Gallery1988 will present "For Your Consideration," their first collaborative exhibition featuring art inspired by the 2012 Best Picture Oscar(R) nominees, on display February 14 through 17 at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles. The images can currently be viewed in a digital gallery at http://oscar.com/for-your-consideration.

"Working hand in hand with the Academy has been a dream come true for Gallery1988 and its artists," said Jensen Karp, co-owner and co-curator of Gallery1988. "So much inspiration has come from past Oscar telecasts as well as the amazing range of films that have been nominated this year. It was a perfect fit for our style of artwork and treatment, and we can't wait to show everyone the results of some of our most creative contemporary minds."

The Academy and Gallery1988 commissioned a small group of young international artists to create original screen prints inspired by this year's nine Best Picture nominees. The participating artists and their respective films are Matt Owen ("Amour"), Anthony Petrie ("Argo"), Rich Kelly ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), Mark Englert ("Django Unchained"), Phantom City Creative ("Les Misérables"), Tom Whalen ("Life of Pi"), Jeff Boyes ("Lincoln"), Joshua Budich ("Silver Linings Playbook") and Godmachine ("Zero Dark Thirty").

These screen prints are not available for purchase; however, fans will have several opportunities to obtain limited edition posters. On each day of "For Your Consideration," Gallery1988 will give away free posters to the first 100 people who visit the gallery at a specified time. For information on when each film poster will be distributed, visit nineteeneightyeight.com or follow Gallery1988 on Twitter (@galleries1988) and Facebook (gallery1988). Fans outside the Los Angeles area can find out about poster giveaway opportunities by following the Academy on Twitter (@TheAcademy) and Facebook (TheAcademy).

"For Your Consideration" also features 12 illustrations of memorable Oscar moments by Oliver Barrett, a light installation by Julie B (Pretty in Plastic), and other Oscar-inspired work by artists Olly Moss, Nan Lawson and DabsMyla.

Gallery1988 opened in Los Angeles in 2004 and has since become a world-recognized destination for pop culture art. It has produced such shows as Crazy 4 Cult, in which 100 artists created pieces inspired by classic cult films, and has worked with such luminaries as Stan Lee, Beastie Boys, Weird Al Yankovic and Judd Apatow. It recently spearheaded the "Breaking Bad" Fan Art Campaign, partnering with Sony to promote the most recent season of the television show. Gallery1988 also has created pieces for PaleyFest and Jason Reitman's Live Read series at LACMA, as well the historic poster and artwork for Paramount Pictures' 100th Anniversary celebration.

Gallery1988 is located at 7021 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; the gallery is closed on Monday and Tuesday. For more information, visit nineteeneightyeight.com.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards - in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners - the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.