AAC Announces New Executive Director
The Board of Directors of Arlington Arts Center (AAC) is pleased to announce the selection of Catherine Anchin as its next Executive Director. She begins her new role in early May 2021.
“I am delighted to welcome Catherine to AAC,” said Marlene Harrison, President of AAC’s Board of Directors. “With a background in contemporary visual arts, extensive experience in arts administration and fundraising, and roots in Arlington, our Board of Directors is confident that Catherine has the unique skills and experiences to take AAC to new heights. As we prepare for new leadership, I would like to extend my appreciation to my board colleagues on the search committee for their commitment to this process. I am also grateful to Blair Murphy, AAC’s Curator of Exhibitions, who served as Acting Executive Director since October of 2020.”
“I am honored to join AAC at this pivotal time in the organization’s history and very much look forward to highlighting the transformative power of the arts and creativity in our community and beyond,” said Catherine.
Ms. Anchin’s appointment concludes a four-month search led by Carlyn Madden of Good Insight, a Washington, DC-based executive search firm that serves the nonprofit sector. Carrie Schum, Vice President of the Board of Directors, chaired a search committee comprised of representatives of AAC’s board, staff, and resident artists.
Ms. Anchin will lead AAC as it continues to navigate the unprecedented challenges facing arts organizations at this time. In the face of these challenges, AAC has reached its audiences in new ways through innovative virtual and in-person programs, including the online exhibition By Proxy and Passage, a site-specific installation by artist Lynda Andrews-Barry presented on AAC’s lawn. It has also continued to serve the community through ongoing educational partnerships with Bridges to Independence and Carlin Springs Elementary School. AAC’s spring exhibitions Stretched and Ryan McCoy: From an Abyss are currently on view at AAC and will be accompanied by a series of virtual artist talks. AAC is looking forward to offering both online and in-person summer camps during the summer of 2021. Under Ms. Anchin’s leadership, AAC will begin planning for a return to more in-person programs, as it is safe to do so.
About Catherine Anchin
Catherine Anchin joins Arlington Arts Center from the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, where she led advancement and external affairs. In this role, she managed fundraising, communications, and marketing strategies to expand the museum’s global audiences, increase its visibility, and grow its revenue and base of supporters.
Catherine brings extensive experience in arts fundraising and administration, as well as a commitment to contemporary visual arts. Her career has included tenures at major national and regional museums, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland, Ohio.
She holds an MA in Museum Studies and a BA in Art History from Syracuse University, as well as a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Case Western Reserve University. An Arlington, Virginia resident since 2007, she and her family currently live in the Westover neighborhood.
About Arlington Arts Center
Since 1974, the Arlington Arts Center (AAC) has served as a premiere destination for contemporary visual arts for the Washington metropolitan area. AAC’s mission is to enrich community life by connecting the public with contemporary art and artists through exhibitions, educational programs, and artist residencies. AAC is located at 3550 Wilson Boulevard. As of March 2021, galleries are open to the public Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 5 PM and by appointment. Visit www.arlingtonartcenter.org for more information.
