Verner Award recipient Kathleen Bateson to retire
Lowcountry arts to lose decorated leader in 2020
After leading the organization since 1998, CEO/President Kathleen Bateson has announced her retirement from the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina effective June 30, 2020.
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Reeves, who has worked with Bateson since 2001, will succeed as president and CEO effective Jan. 1, 2020. Bateson will remain with Arts Center as executive artistic producer until June 30, 2020.
Bateson’s executive arts consulting history and corporate management experience, particularly in financial and long-range planning strategies, corporate investor relations and international marketing/PR, preceded her current CEO leadership role. During her tenure, the Arts Center has become the state’s third largest arts organization as well as its largest professional producing theatre (110+ plays). Bateson also diversified the Presenting Artists series (270+performers) and expanded the education efforts into the four-county region (265,000+ services).
In 2019 Bateson received the Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Award for the Arts (seen above), the highest arts honor in the state, which was also awarded to the Arts Center in 2006. Bateson was also recently named to the S.C. Arts Foundation board of directors.
Bob Lee, two-time Chairman of the Arts Center Board of Trustees stated, “I cannot express enough the privilege I have had working with Kathi on the Board of Trustees over the last 16 years. While her departure will certainly leave a hole in the hearts of those of us who recognize the many successes and accolades her leadership has brought to the Arts Center, we also recognize that she has assembled a skillful, capable team who will sustain the level of excellence she has created at this community jewel.”
Hilton Head Island seeks culture and arts network director
Apply by March 22
The Town of Hilton Head Island is seeking a dynamic and creative individual to become its first culture and arts network director. The new director will lead the process to create and implement a civic plan for enhancing the Island’s existing entertainment, arts, culture and heritage (EACH) assets and for identifying new assets for development. Working with other stakeholders, the director will elevate the marketing of these assets in a way that showcases them as successfully as other Island amenities, with a focus on new ways to reach both residents and visitors. This position is the first of its kind in Beaufort County and will offer the successful candidate a challenging and rewarding opportunity to steer the town’s future in these important areas.
The successful candidate will be able to interact effectively with multiple audiences, quickly grasp the current situation and determine possibilities for enhancement and development. The ability to communicate with the following constituents is required: leaders of various EACH organizations, Island residents and visitors, Town government and the Island’s marketing entities (Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and its Visitors and Convention Bureau). The successful candidate will also be able to demonstrate knowledge, skills or abilities in the areas of strategic planning, marketing, facilitation, group presentations, use of social media platforms and technology resources, and administrative management.
Currently the Island has a world-class symphony, a vibrant theater scene, a rich music community, nationally recognized artistic talent, and a storied but under-told heritage. We are seeking a candidate who can showcase these assets (and others) to expand their reach and broaden our Island’s appeal to both residents and visitors.
Application deadline is March 22.
Complete details and application instructions are online.