The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art (HICA) at the College of Charleston School of the Arts today announced the appointment of Karen Ann Myers as its new Assistant Director. Myers will assume her position in early October 2011. Her appointment follows a national search under the guidance of Halsey Institute director Mark Sloan. Exiting staff member Rebecca Silberman has taken a position as Assistant Registrar at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, CA.
“I have had the great pleasure of working with Karen for the past three years while she has been Executive Director of Redux Contemporary Art Center here in Charleston,” said Sloan. “I am looking forward to her contributions here. We are very fortunate to bring on board someone with outstanding professional experience who will help to advance this institution in the years ahead. Myers has been teaching in the arts management curriculum at the College of Charleston for the past year and this move to HICA seems a natural progression for her career in this field.”
Karen Ann Myers is an artist, educator and administrator. She received her MFA in Painting from Boston University and her BFA in Painting, Graphic Design and Art Education from Michigan State University. In 2009 Myers began work at Redux Contemporary Art Center, where as Executive Director, she facilitated enormous growth in the organization’s membership efforts and greatly increased its educational offerings. This fall, Redux is opening a much-expanded facility with more than twice the exhibition space and new studio spaces to provide for 22 artists. Under her leadership, a grant for exhibition support was received from the prestigious Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
While at Redux Myers implemented a successful marketing and communications campaign, which helped bring more visitors to the organization’s exhibitions, classes, and programs. These initiatives ultimately led to enhanced community support.
Myers is also an active artist and her paintings and prints have been shown nationally. Most recently, her work was shown at the LUIS DE JESUS gallery in Los Angeles, CA, Robert Steele Gallery in New York, NY, at the Commonwealth Gallery in Boston, MA, the Katzen Arts Center in Washington, DC, the FAB gallery at South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC and Dalton Gallery at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA. Myers is currently represented by SCOOP Studios in Charleston, SC.
As Assistant Director of the Halsey Institute for Contemporary Art, Myers will be responsible for managing the day to day operations of HICA, while assisting the Board and Director Mark Sloan with its many strategic initiatives. Myer’s position was created as part of the Halsey Institute’s reorganization in July. Dean Valerie Morris of the School of the Arts said, “Ms. Meyers has substantive knowledge of and experience in the arts. She is already an excellent teacher in our arts management program, and we welcome her talent and enthusiasm to the Halsey Institute and the School of the Arts.”
The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art is a non-collecting contemporary art museum located on the campus of the College of Charleston, on the corner of Calhoun and St. Philip Streets. HICA offers a comprehensive contemporary arts program that is committed to providing a direct experience with art works in various media, in an environment that fosters creativity, innovation, and learning. The Halsey Institute serves as an extension of the undergraduate curricula at the College of Charleston and as a cultural resource for the region by producing exhibitions, lectures and panel discussions, film series, publications, and a comprehensive website. In addition, the Halsey Institute seeks to foster meaningful partnerships with local organizations in order to further the reach of contemporary art within the Charleston community. Admission into the galleries and to most programs is free with the public encouraged to attend.
The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art is administered by the School of the Arts at the College of Charleston and exists to advocate, exhibit and interpret visual art, with an emphasis on contemporary art.
Location: The Marion and Wayland H. Cato Jr. Center for the Arts
161 Calhoun Street, 1st Floor (on the corner of St. Philip & Calhoun Streets)
Parking: Available in the St. Philip and George Street Garages
Gallery hours: Monday – Saturday, 11 – 4 p.m. during exhibitions, or by appointment
FREE and OPEN to the public
Tours: Guided group tours are offered through the Halsey Institute’s Looking to See program. Contact Lizz Biswell at BiswellL@cofc.edu for inquiries.
Sponsorship: Become a HICA Community Partner today! Contact Lisa Reed at reeded@cofc.edu for more information.
For more information: Contact the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art by calling (843) 953-HICA (4422) or visiting www.halsey.cofc.edu.
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