press room

For Immediate Release

01/07/2008

Contact:
Beth Olsen
Goodman Media International for Americans for the Arts
212.576.2700 ext. 243 or bolsen@goodmanmedia.com


Newly Elected Council Members to Chart Course for Emerging Arts Leaders

Washington, DC, January 7, 2008 — Americans for the Arts announced today the election of nine new members to its Emerging Leader Council, a group that assists in developing programs and resources to promote the growth, development, and sustenance of emerging arts professionals nationwide. The Emerging Leader program at Americans for the Arts works to identify and cultivate the next generation of arts leaders in America. 

“The Emerging Leader Council is an important part of our mission to bring the arts to all Americans. The development of new arts leadership is critical to the advancement of the arts in this country and we are thrilled to welcome these accomplished, bright, young individuals to the council,” said Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts.

Through special meetings and networking opportunities taking place across the country, the Emerging Leader program encourages new arts leaders to participate fully in the field.  Emerging arts leaders bring fresh perspectives, new ideas, and vibrant energy to careers that are built on a foundation of creativity.  Council members are committed to enhancing that leadership capacity in themselves and throughout the national network of emerging leaders at Americans for the Arts.. New professionals are valuable to the arts community, and the members of the Emerging Leader Council are dedicated to see that the support for the arts continues for generations to come. 

Following is a list of the newly elected Emerging Leader Council members:

Stanlyn Brevé is the Subsidy Programs Specialist for the National Performance Network (NPN) in New Orleans.  In that role, she is responsible for communicating its programs to national presenters and performing artists. A native New Orleanian, Brevé made her career in the arts as a visual artist, video documentarian, media producer, educator, and arts administrator. She is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Association of Performing Arts Presenter’s Emerging Leaders Institute, and Interaction Institute for Social Change’s Facilitative Leader Institute.

Marisa Catalina Casey is Founder and Executive Director of Starting Artists, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Brooklyn, New York, which prepares youth with the artistic and entrepreneurial skills to start arts-based businesses. Casey obtained her B.A. in Latin American studies from Brown University and her M.A. in arts administration from Columbia University. Casey has held positions at the William Randolph Hearst Foundations, the Metropolitan Opera, The Door, and APERTURE.

Ruby Classen is Grants and Services Coordinator for the Greater Columbus Arts Council in Columbus, Ohio.  Classen also serves as President of the Board of Trustees for the Little Theatre Off Broadway (LTOB) located in Grove City, OH; a delegate for LTOB and a Central Regional Representative for the Ohio Community Theatre Association; a representative for LTOB to the Theatre Roundtable; and as a volunteer and member to Emerald City Players in Dublin. Classen previously worked in corporate affairs for Intimate Brands/Limited Brands, Inc.

Reed Colver is currently Campus and Community Engagement Coordinator for Carolina Performing Arts at the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill. She recently completed her master's degree in intercultural service, leadership and management from the School of International Training. In her master's program, Reed explored the intersection between intercultural relations and the arts through her work with the Multicultural Arts Professional Development Program in Melbourne, Australia and as an intern with Animating Democracy at Americans for the Arts.

Ben Fyffe is the Arts and Education Programs Specialist for the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department.  Previously, Fyffe was Youth Docent Program Coordinator at the Austin Museum of Art and most recently Assistant Head of Education at the El Paso Museum of Art.  Fyffe juried the 2005 Texas Biennial and has curated several exhibitions.  Fyffe holds a B.A. in art history from the University of Texas at Austin and was a 2007 Wallace Foundation Fellow.

Priscilla Rodriguez is the Executive Director of the Brownsville Heritage Complex in Brownsville, Texas.  She serves on the Council of the Texas Association of Museums and on the Expanding Relations Committee for Americans for the Arts. Additionally, she is on the board of Amigos Artistas and is co-founder of Cameron County Creative Alliance.  Rodriguez is a grant panelist for Texas Commission on the Arts and was the 2007 recipient of the Award of Excellence in Museums by the Texas Historical Commission. Rodriguez received her B.A. in American studies and M.A. in political and comparative sociology from Stanford University.

Jason Schupbach is the Director of ArtistLink in Boston.  He has a degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master's degree in city planning with an Urban Design Certificate from MIT. Schupbach worked for the mayor’s office and Department of Cultural Affairs in Chicago, and he was the staff urban planner and capital projects manager for the Department of Cultural Affairs in New York City. He has been involved in Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC).  Schupbach is a graduate of the UMASS Center for Collaborative Leadership’s Cohort 2007, and was a recipient of the MIT Excellence in Public Service Awards 2006.

Jessica Thompson is the Executive Director of the Foundation of Retaining Creative Energy in Madison, WI. As the founding director, Thompson has created programming to assist local creative talent in professional development and support.  In addition, she has developed an impact study that focuses on the Wisconsin GenX/GenY involvement in the arts. Thompson also serves as vice president of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art young professionals board, Art Partners, and is an active member of the Entrepreneurial Committee under Madison's young professionals' organization, MAGNET. Thompson was recognized as one of InBusiness Magazine's "40 Under 40" in the 2006 Book of Lists.

Jennifer M. Wijangco is the Deputy Director of the Texas Cultural Trust.  At the Trust, Wijangco started strataTX, a young professionals group supporting creativity in the arts, culture, and economy. Wijangco graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and recently completed a master of arts in arts management degree, with a certificate in Not-for-Profit Management from the University of Oregon. Wijangco is a board member of Yellow Tape Construction Co., a performance and media nonprofit arts organization in Austin. She also serves on the advisory board of American Repertory Ensemble. Wijangco is a member of the Working Group Leadership Council, and Task Force Co-Chair for CreateAustin, the city's community cultural planning project.

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 record of 48 years 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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