Leslie Forrester, pictured, is returning to become the new executive director of the Springfield Regional Arts Council. She will assume responsibilities on December 2, 2013, according to a SRAC announcement. Forrester replaces Leah Hamilton who took a position at Drury University as director of the arts administration program.
A program specialist since October 2011 for the Missouri Arts Council (MAC) in St. Louis, Forrester has overseen the community arts programs and managed MAC's touring programs where she gained a statewide perspective of community arts organizations.
Forrester previously was SRAC's arts education outreach coordinator. From 2007-2009 she helped develop and implement programs for public art, regional outreach, studio art tours, professional development for artists, gallery exhibits and special events like the annual Poetry Out Loud regional competition and Free Art Days.
With an undergraduate degree from Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, Forrester attained a Master of Fine Arts from Southern Utah University. While in Utah she served as associate director of the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery and worked with staff at the Zion National Park to implement an artist-in-residence program.
"We are delighted to bring Leslie's energy and enthusiasm for the arts back to Springfield with her broad perspective for our region's role in the statewide community arts environment," said Louise Knauer, president of the SRAC Board of Directors.
As executive director, Forrester will oversee SRAC's efforts to promote artists, Springfield's cultural organizations, educational programming, major community events such as Artsfest on Historic Walnut Street, and arts programming with the Springfield-Greene County Park Department, as well as fulfill the goals of the Springfield Cultural Plan and oversee The Creamery Arts Center as a headquarters for community arts activities.
"Since the day I graduated from college, SRAC has been a part of my life and career in one way or another," Forrester said. "After several years away, I am honored to once again be a part of your community."
SRAC serves as a regional arts hub for a 27-county area of southwest Missouri.
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