Arts - The arts have a home and a director - The arts have a home — and a director

    The Northside Arts Collective now has their first full-time executive director, Connie Beckers. Beckers has been at the heart of the organization for the past six years, first as an event organizer for the Spring Art Party and was then hired in 2007 as the interim executive director. Beckers is a working glass artist, life-long Northsider, teacher and active community member, and has been able to tap into her vast network of connections to the benefit of the Northside Arts Collective. In her interim capacity, she grew the organization from a handful of members to the 200+ in two short years. Beckers has a history in promoting the arts in North Minneapolis; notably she started the Artist's Roundtable, taught stained glass art classes thru Community Education, and wrote a monthly arts column for the Camden Community News.

    Building on partnerships with government, business and philanthropic communities, Beckers worked with CPED staff member Thomas Leighton to form the West Broadway Art Street program which will add five artistic building facades along West Broadway in 2009.

    "The Board of Directors is pleased with the sustained growth of the organization over the past two years, including outreach and assistance to our artists/members, and our collaborations with business, education and health services through artist-led  programming. We believe our commitment to our members will be enhanced through the work of a full-time executive director, with her proven track record of providing professional support to artists, and designing community programs for the arts," said Northside Arts Collective Board Chair Beverly Roberts.

    The Northside Arts Collective unites, enriches and advances the Northside community through the arts. Contact: 1011 West Broadway, 612-767-2141 or info@nacarts.org, or visit www.nacarts.org.