Press Release 4.7.03

ARTS COUNCIL SILICON VALLEY HIRES COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

SAN JOSE, CA, April 7, 2003  – Arts Council Silicon Valley today announced the hiring of Cecilia Clark as its new Communications Manager.  This is the first time in its 20-year history that the Arts Council will have a dedicated communications function.  Ms. Clark will be responsible for all aspects of the organization’s messaging, materials, media and community relations and advocacy efforts.

“The Arts Council conducted a thorough strategic planning process last year,” said Arts Council Executive Director Bruce Davis, “and we established that one of the greatest needs in the arts community is for someone to step out and be an effective voice for the arts in Silicon Valley, through advocacy, convening, and focused communications. Having a dedicated communications function is key to enabling us to meet this need.  If there was any time the arts needed a voice,” he added, “this is it.”

Ms. Clark comes to the Arts Council with twelve years experience working in local non-profits, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Children’s Discovery Museum.  In addition, she spent three years developing the communications function of History San Jose as their Director of Communications.  Most recently, she has done free lance marcom and writing projects with such organizations as WORKS/San Jose, the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo and the Morgan Hill Times.  Ms. Clark is a resident of Morgan Hill, and also serves as a board member of the Morgan Hill Community Foundation.

“We’re delighted to be bringing on a communications manager with such a diverse background who is familiar with the arts throughout the region,” Davis said. “We expect the addition will significantly enhance our ability to increase visibility for the arts.”

Incorporated in 1983, Arts Council Silicon Valley is celebrating its 20th anniversary as an independent regional arts support and planning agency, dedicated to supporting the arts and culture in our community by providing funding, advocacy and services to the region’s arts organizations and artists.  As the official state/local partner with the California Arts Council and the County of Santa Clara, Arts Council Silicon Valley is now the largest nonprofit arts council in the state. Over the past ten years, the Arts Council has distributed nearly $6 million to local arts and cultural organizations, individual artists, schools and community groups.

###