County Executive Names Pamela Andros Interim Cultural Affairs Director
August 14, 2012
Casey Slaughter Becker, Office of the County Executive 608.267.8823 or cell, 608.843.8858
County Executive
Andros Brings Arts Economic Development Background, History as Local Artist to Role, Will Serve Following Retirement of Outgoing Director Karen Crossley
Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced today that he has selected Pamela Andros to serve as the Interim Director for the Dane County Cultural Affairs Program. Andros brings an economic development background, as well as decades of experience in the arts community as a local artist, to the role.
“Pamela Andros’ background in economic development and the arts, coupled with her decades of experience as a local artist makes her an ideal fit as our new Interim Cultural Affairs Director,” said Parisi. “Pam understands that arts and culture means big business for Dane County, and she understands the struggles and successes our creative professionals face.”
Andros currently works for the county’s Planning and Development Department and has over 12 years experience in budgeting, grant administration, strategic planning, and public relations. A focus of Andros’ work in that department has been economic development and the arts, including the development of the ‘Make. Do’ initiative announced by the County Executive earlier this year.
‘Make. Do’ aims to connect local creative professionals and hobbyists in need of space to create with vacant commercial and industrial locations they can use to produce their work and rehearse. A recent study revealed that arts and culture in Dane County generates more than $145 million in economic impact annually.
Andros brings decades of unique perspective as a local artist to her role as Interim Director – inside knowledge of the arts and culture community that will be beneficial in finding new ways the county can support this important sector of the local economy.
“I’m thrilled with this opportunity to combine my professional experience with something I love,” said Andros. “It will be an honor to work with our local arts community and the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission to fulfill the DaneArts mission and connect more people to this vibrant part of Dane County.”
A long-time advocate for the arts and culture community, Andros remains involved in non-profit arts organizations, including serving a term as President of the Madison Art Guild, and as a promotion volunteer for the South Central Chapter of the Wisconsin Visual Artists.
Andros studied art through the UW-Madison Fine Arts program, Edgewood College, the traditional fine art training program at the Kewaunee Academy of Fine Arts, and through a variety of classes with Madison College and UW-Madison Continuing Education.
Andros will begin her tenure as Interim Director in September following the retirement of outgoing Cultural Affairs Director Karen Crossley. A thorough search and screen process to recruit a permanent successor for Crossley will be conducted in the near future.
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