SPRINGDALE -- The Arts Center of the Ozarks will seek a new director to succeed Jenni Taylor Swain when her contract ends in June.
"My job is a transitional job," Swain said Friday. "I was hired during a transitional year to begin transforming the Arts Center of the Ozarks. We're on a path of the Arts Center evolving and growing, and (the new director) is really good news because we're going to bring in more leadership."
The Arts Center's board hired Swain after Harry and Kathi Blundell retired April 30, 2016. The couple, director of theater and director of operations, respectively, joined the center in 1974. The center celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.
Swain said she isn't leaving the center, but will begin a new contract in which she will help through her private company, Potluck Arts.
"What I've been active in doing this last year is setting up what programs meet the community needs, and so I'm continuing to work with the Arts Center of the Ozarks to develop programatic strategies that we will do for next year and beyond that demonstrate the Arts Center's commitment to link communities and celebrate their cultural assets," she said.
The board hired Swain as a contracted consultant in June to do a program assessment. "And then I was asked to stay on and provide executive and artistic leadership during the transition year," she said. She took over as executive director in October. The position wasn't described as "interim."
Tareneh Manning, president of the center's board, said Swain might have at times been referred to as just "executive director" in short hand, but contractually Swain has always been an interim executive director.
"I think she's fantastic," Manning said. "We're lucky she agreed to be our interim executive director."
Manning said there was no formal offer for Swain to continue as executive director. Swain said her contract was for only a year.
"She's always had that offer (to continue as executive director) on the table, but we knew going in that she wanted to pursue Potluck Arts," Manning said.
Mayor Doug Sprouse lauded Swain's work and noted the center's continuous growth.
"I think she's done an outstanding job in leading through some transitions that the Arts Center is experiencing," Sprouse said. "The future of the Arts Center is very bright, and I look forward to seeing more positive changes moving forward."
Swain said she's proud 13 arts organizations, among them Trike Theatre of Bentonville and the Latin Art Organization of Arkansas in Springdale, use the center for performances and presentations and the audience has become more diverse while maintaining core support.
Alderman Kathy Jaycox, whose ward includes the center, acknowledged its progress over the past year.
"The Arts Center has had a remarkable update that is making a huge impact on not only Springdale but this entire region," Jaycox said. "Their performances have been amazing (and) their strategic plan is obviously showing positive results."
The center's board will choose the new director, Swain said.
Swain will help choose the new director, Manning said.
"We hired her as our interim executive director to get through this transition," she said. "Part of that contract was to help us get a permanent executive director. We're really excited about our partnership with her going forward."
NW News on 03/11/2017