As we move forward through 2018 and its exciting challenges, we are sharing some changes to our leadership staff:

On March 31, Jim Kelly retired as Executive Director, a position he held for 15 years. In that time, Jim built an incredibly strong team of cultural advocates here at 4Culture, making the challenge of navigating this transition easier as we welcomed Deb Twersky to the role of Acting Director on April 2. Deb has overseen our funding programs since 2000, managing millions of dollars in grant funds, helping organizations build capacity so they can thrive, and strengthening the network of cultural resources in King County and beyond. Deb will serve as our Acting Director until a permanent Executive Director is hired near the end of May.

We’re also starting the process of saying goodbye to another longtime 4Culture leader who has helped shaped our organization: Public Art Director Cath Brunner. Cath has led our Public Art department since 4Culture was the King County Arts Commission, and in that time has helped build our region’s international reputation for outstanding public art. We were thrilled to have her honored at the national level last year with an Americans for the Arts National Leadership Award. Cath stepped down from her role as Director on March 31—she’ll stay with us as a Project Manager until August, when she’ll move into her own private consulting practice. We’re thrilled to welcome our own Kelly Pajek as Public Art Director! Kelly’s two years at 4Culture as a Project Manager are the latest chapter in a public art career that spans more than two decades and several cities, including New York.

We know our community joins us in congratulating Jim, Deb, Cath, and Kelly and in thanking them for their amazing work on behalf of King County!