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For Immediate Release

Washington DC – December 10, 2003 – Americans for the Arts announces the election of Vincent Kitch, Essence Newhoff, Greta Peñeñori-Willis, and Robin Iten Porter to a three-year term on its Emerging Leadership Council.

The Emerging Leadership Council provides advice and guidance to the Board of Americans for the Arts on the development and implementation of a series of programs designed to meet the needs of emerging leaders working in the arts today.

“As Americans for the Arts works to identify and cultivate the next generation of arts leaders in America, we are pleased to welcome Vincent Kitch, Essence Newhoff, Greta Peñeñori-Willis, and Robin Iten Porter to the Emerging Leadership Council,” stated Robert Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts.  “These four people have demonstrated the desire and the drive to help us develop innovative, effective, and responsible management practices that can be shared with the entire nonprofit arts field.”

Vincent E. Kitch is the newly appointed cultural arts program manager for the City of Austin, Texas.  Previously, he was the education and capital improvements programs coordinator at the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, where he administered the council’s three arts education programs, as well as a capital improvements program supporting renovation and construction of cultural facilities.  He has also served as the founding director of an arts magnet program in El Paso and as arts program coordinator for the City of El Paso Arts Resources Department.

Essence Newhoff is director of development for exhibitions at the National Building Museum.  She has served in this position since 1999 and has 12 years of experience as a fundraiser for cultural and educational institutions, including The George Washington University, On the Boards, Intiman Theatre, and Seattle Group Theatre.  She earned a Master of Public Administration degree in nonprofit and arts management from the University of Washington.

Greta Peñéñori-Willis is the grants specialist for the Broward County Cultural Affairs Division in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after working throughout multiple departments within the organization.  She also serves as staff liaison for the Cultural Diversity Committee, which helps meet the needs of multi-ethnic artists and arts organizations.  Previously Willis worked at Broward Community College and Florida Atlantic University as an advertising manager.  She received her A.A. in journalism at Broward Community College and her B.A. in communications from Florida Atlantic University and plans on entering the graduate program for arts administration.

Robin Iten Porter is the executive director of the Arts Council of the Valley in Harrisonburg, Virginia.  Her experience with local arts councils includes serving as the first policy-level arts staff member for the City of Virginia Beach, where she directed the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission.  She also administered granting programs for arts organizations, arts projects and individual artists, as well as overseeing arts programming on a county-wide basis, at United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County.  Most recently, she administered artist fellowship programs in all disciplines at the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With offices in Washington, DC, and New York City, it has a 40-year record of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

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