For Immediate Release
November 18, 2011
Atlanta, Georgia – Gerri Combs, executive director of South Arts, announced recently that she intends to retire in June 2012. The announcement came last week during a regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Ms. Combs became executive director in 2005, coming to South Arts from the Kentucky Arts Council, where she was the agency’s executive director since 1996.
During her time at South Arts, Ms. Combs has seen the organization through major transformations including a change in name—from Southern Arts Federation to South Arts—and a new strategic plan with an updated mission and staff and board structure. The past few years have seen the launch of successful programs such as the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers, the Dance Touring Initiative, and the new national initiative, ArtsReady, an online emergency preparedness platform for arts organizations.
“Gerri’s tenure at South Arts has been one that has seen considerable growth in the organization,” stated Todd P. Lowe, chair of South Arts’ Board of Directors. “We’ll miss her enthusiasm and energy that have led South Arts to play a more prominent role in arts and arts education in the southern region.”
More than 30 years ago, Ms. Combs began an extensive career in the field of arts administration and education. During that time she has worked as a public school teacher, local arts council director, facility manager, presenter programmer and consultant. She has held the positions of executive director for the Capitol Arts Center, education director for the Speed Art Museum, and deputy director of the Galef Institute-Kentucky Collaborative for Teaching and Learning. She has served as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and as a board member of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.
After retirement, Ms. Combs, a native of Paintsville, Kentucky, plans to return to the state where she has many friends and family.
A search committee has been appointed by the Board of Directors to address future leadership. More information about the search process and transition will be available soon.
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Media Inquiries: Please contact Bola Ogunlade at bola@southarts.org or 404-874-7244 ext 28
About South Arts: South Arts, a nonprofit regional arts organization, was founded in 1975 to build on the South's unique heritage and enhance the public value of the arts. South Arts' work responds to the arts environment and cultural trends with a regional perspective. South Arts offers an annual portfolio of activities designed to address arts-related issues important to our region and to link the South with the nation and the world through the arts. For more information, visit www.southarts.org.
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