Metro Arts introduced Darius Barati as the department’s new public information officer during the July 17 Public Art Committee meeting. Barati said he started the position that week and described a background in public media and marketing communications.

“My name is Darius Barati. I may have told some of you. I met some of you already, and some of you may be new to meeting, but, just started a position this week,” he told the committee.

Ashley (staff) said Barati’s hire increases the office’s capacity to publicize Metro Arts projects and that staff are preparing a public-art manager job description. Ashley said staff expect to provide a hiring timeline at the committee’s next meeting after the job description is finalized.

No formal committee action was required; staff presented the hire as an informational update and said recruitment for the public-art manager position will begin after the job description is complete.