The Oregon Cultural Trust has named Kimberly Howard as Trust manager, effective April 27, 2009.
Howard joins the Cultural Trust from Portland's Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, where she was managing director for 2-1/2 years. Prior to that, she was the education/outreach director for Artists Repertory Theatre. She serves on the board of Northwest Business for Culture and the Arts and represents Oregon on the Western States Arts Federation's regional Multicultural Task Force.
In addition to being an arts administrator, Howard is an accomplished actress, with credits in New York, the Williamstown Theatre Festival and several Portland theaters. She is an ensemble member of Sojourn
Theatre, and received a Drammy Award (Portland's version of the Tony Award) for her work in Sojourn's Tartuffe:The Visitor. She holds an MFA in acting from Columbia University and has taught theater at Walla Walla College.
After attending Wellesley College, Howard received her BA from Pacific Union College, where she majored in business.
Christine D'Arcy, executive director of the Trust, said, "Kimberly Howard is recognized as one of Oregon's most promising young arts managers. Her work on Sojourn's seminal "Witness Our Schools"
project took her to dozens of communities across the state. With her combination of business and arts experience and her extensive contacts in the cultural community, she will be an invaluable asset to the Cultural Trust."
Howard responded, "I thrive in the vital intersection between art and community. As an artist and arts administrator, I have worked to foster partnerships, build community and seek sustainable support for arts, culture and heritage all over Oregon. I can't wait to begin collaborating with the organizations, cultural partners, and coalitions that partner with the Trust every day."
Jesse Beason, board chair of the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center added, "We are thrilled that this new role will continue Kimberly's work highlighting the breadth and diversity of culture within Oregon's many communities."
About the Oregon Cultural Trust
The OREGON CULTURAL TRUST is an innovative, statewide private-public program raising significant new funds to support and protect Oregon's arts, humanities and heritage. In addition to the creation of a permanent endowment, funds are distributed annually through three multi-faceted, wide-ranging grant programs. Donors to the Trust are eligible for a 100% Oregon income tax credit for contributions of up to $500 for individuals, $1,000 for couples filing jointly and $2,500 for corporations. To motivate Oregonians to increase direct giving to cultural groups, Trust donors must also make matching gifts to one or more of 1,200 cultural nonprofits in order to qualify for the credit.
No other state in the nation has a program like the Oregon Cultural Trust, which has been ranked with the bottle bill and the beach bill as among Oregon's most progressive public policy measures. More information: (503) 986-0088 or www.culturaltrust.org.
Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, State Sen. George Fleming, Bob Santos and Billy Frank Jr. will be among the speakers honoring King County Executive Ron Sims tonight as he awaits U.S. Senate confirmation of his nomination by President Barack Obama for deputy director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. About 500 people are expected to attend the going away party, 5-7 p.m., program starts at 5:25 p.m., Westin Grand Ballroom, 1900 Fifth Avenue, Seattle
