The Upstairs Artspace ended 2011 with the election of a new board of directors approved at the non-profit gallery’s annual membership meeting on Dec. 8.
Following that meeting, new officers were elected by the new board for 2012. They are Karen Jones, president; Rob Fuller, vice president; Catherine Gurri, secretary; and Paul McMinn, treasurer.
The new board plans to begin 2012 with a membership drive.
“The first priority will be to reach out to past members who are already familiar with the Upstairs and all it has to offer,” Jones said. “There are so many people in Polk County who enjoy the contemporary, sometimes cutting edge, art the Upstairs brings to Tryon. With new membership incentives, we hope to give them more reasons than ever to show their support by becoming members of the gallery.”
The new board will also focus on fundraising, through a capital campaign to begin building an endowment, and through a series of fundraising events and grant proposals to cover the costs of hosting exhibits and new education programs in 2012.
The gallery’s new leadership kicked off those efforts in December with its “Very Sedaris Christmas” fundraiser, featuring a sold-out performance by local actor-director Chris Tinkler of humorist David Sedaris’ one-man play, “Santaland Diaries.” The event, along with the traditional “Presents of Art” sale in the gallery, made December a banner fundraising month for the Upstairs, Jones said.
The other board members serving with Jones are Rob Fuller, Paul McMinn, Mary Prioleau, Margaret Curtis, Keith Spencer, Christy Souther, Harriet Peoples, Catherine Gurri, Kimberly Childress Ward, Jean Pettigrew, Rick Dunn, Alan Peoples and Harold Maass.
For more information, contact Karen Jones at kareneliz@windstream.net.
– article submitted