Press release from Asheville Area Arts Council and North Carolina Glass Center:
Stefanie Gerber, who has served as the Executive Director of the Asheville Area Arts Council (AAAC) for the last three years, has recently been hired by the North Carolina Glass Center (NCGC) as its new Executive Director. Janelle Wienke, who has served as the AAAC’s Grants Manager for the past three years, will be serving as the Interim Executive Director while the organization conducts a search for a candidate to fill the position permanently.
“We are delighted to welcome Stefanie Gerber as the new Executive Director at the North Carolina Glass Center,” says Tom Oreck, Chairperson of the NCGC. “From her leadership in the Arts community to her relationships with local and state officials to her many successes in grants and fundraising, her passion, experience and commitment to the Arts makes her an exciting choice to direct the North Carolina Glass Center. We all look forward to her leading staff and artists as we move together to fulfill our mission.”
Ms. Gerber, whose previous work experience includes Educator of Public Programs at The Frist Art Museum in Nashville and Galleries & Collections Manager at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, was originally hired by the Asheville Area Arts Council in 2016 as its Director of Operations. She quickly assumed its leadership role of Executive Director during a major staff restructuring after just a few months on the job.
During her tenure as Executive Director of the AAAC, the organization has experienced transformative growth – both in community impact and membership. Gerber has played an instrumental role in the AAAC’s creation and management of the Refinery Creator Space, which has established much needed affordable studio space for individual artists and arts-based nonprofits in downtown Asheville’s South Slope Innovation District.
Under her directorship, the AAAC has also developed an Arts & Wellness for Veterans Program in partnership with the Charles George VA Medical Center, collaborated with other organizations to secure valuable and much needed economic impact data on the local creative sector, and strengthened and secured its leadership role in arts advocacy in Asheville and Buncombe County.
“It’s been a great pleasure working closely with Stefanie and the talented staff she’s recruited to re-establish and strengthen the significant and positive impact that the Asheville Area Arts Council has on our community,” said AAAC Board Chair Gar Ragland. “Her legacy is the tremendous new momentum, credibility and solid organizational infrastructure we’ve established to better serve our community. She will be sorely missed, yet the AAAC board and staff fully support this exciting new opportunity that awaits her at the NC Glass Center. We take comfort knowing that she’ll continue to serve our community through the arts, and we’re very excited for the new adventures that await both her and the Arts Council in this next chapter.”
“I am so proud of what the staff and board of the AAAC has accomplished during my three years as Executive Director,” said Ms. Gerber. “It has been an honor to work with this team while also getting to know the talented individuals and organizations who make up our community. I am extremely excited to stay in Asheville and begin this next phase with the NC Glass Center. The staff, board, and artists there have worked tirelessly to establish a hub for glass in Western North Carolina. I am delighted that they selected me to join their team and I look forward to furthering their trajectory in new and innovative ways.”
About the Asheville Area Arts Council
The Asheville Area Arts Council creates opportunities for public participation and appreciation of art; advocates for the value of art in our community and economy; collaborates with partner organizations to offer and expand arts programming; and supports promising projects and artists in their exciting endeavors and professional success.About the North Carolina Glass Center
The North Carolina Glass Center is dedicated to education, exploration and collaboration in all forms of glass. The Center offers exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops, educating the general public about the science, history, artistry and utility of glass.The Center also houses a retail gallery collection focused on the artists and instructors who create their work onsite in the NCGC studios.
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