Metro Arts moves to fill finance role; executive director search planned with July start for recruitment

Interim Executive Director Ashley Batchelder reported progress on multiple Metro Arts vacancies and outlined a timeline for the executive director recruitment.

Batchelder said staff made a conditional offer to a candidate for the finance position, who accepted. The candidate, Capri Harston, was described by staff as having extensive higher-education finance and administration experience and as available to start once administrative checks conclude. Batchelder noted the offer was conditional pending standard hiring procedures.

The department reopened its public information manager position; Batchelder said the recent application window produced 105 candidates to review. The public art manager recruitment will follow after those two key positions are filled.

On the executive director search, committee members said Human Resources Director Shannon Hall will present to the full commission in June and that a formal search will begin in July. The committee indicated a typical search timeline of roughly six months from launch to hire, with a tentative start date for a new executive director in December. The executive committee will function as the support/search committee with HR, rather than establishing a separate citizen search committee. Batchelder and commissioners said the plan aims to provide overlap between the interim director and the incoming executive director for continuity.

Ending: Committee members thanked staff and noted updates will be provided at the full commission meeting; no formal vote was required for staffing updates.