EATON — After seven years of leadership of the Preble County Art Association (PCAA), Executive Director Vicky Fanberg is resigning to take a position as Visiting Assistant Professor of Arts Management at Miami University in Oxford.
During Fanberg’s seven years as PCAA Executive Director she led the organization’s strategic planning processes and developed initiatives that ensured sustainability and increased the operating budget by 450 percent. She spearheaded the fundraising for the Preble Arts building at 205 East Main Street in Eaton and raised nearly $1.5 million for the project. The new home of PCAA was made possible by the support of local citizens, foundations, the state of Ohio, and businesses that shared the vision of community-based arts that she brought to Preble County.
The programs she established have engaged over 380 artists in exhibits, as instructors and demonstrators of the arts, in solo exhibits in the gallery, in sales opportunities, and at the county fair and Arts Night Out. Fanberg has developed programs in collaboration with other private and public organizations in providing arts opportunities to senior citizens, to individuals with developmental disabilities, to youth who are experiencing contacts with the juvenile court or foster care systems, to high school students looking for career opportunities, to individuals with mental health or substance abuse problems, to elementary school students, to teenage girls learning to lead, to pre-school children at the Head Start program, and to individuals and families and companies that want to celebrate special occasions through artistic activity.
Additional community-based projects have included the Wave Wall at the ASK Playground, the mural at the Residences at Eagles Point, seating and planters at the Bistro at Eagles Point, the art wall on the east side of Your Flower Shop, and other public art projects located at Head Start and Safari Junction, and of course Oinkers for Art. Collaborations with local governments and community organizations like the Preble County Senior Center, Your Happy Place, local school districts and many more have built a number of programs to reach all Preble County citizens.
Over a year’s time Fanberg helps the PCAA serve over 10,000 people in Preble County and has helped to integrate the arts into the hearts and lives of residents of the county. Fortunately for the community, Fanberg will remain involved while the PCAA Board searches for a new executive director.
”I feel that I have made change and hope that the community is happy with the outcomes of my work. I have had many folks in this time that have been mentors, cheerleaders, support systems and have become friends,” she said. “It has taken a huge network of people to help foster a love for the arts: dedicated board members, energetic Good Folk and amazing leadership with community partners. Although I do not live here, Preble County has felt like home”
Although her leadership will be missed by the community and the PCAA Board of Trustees, the PCAA is excited to begin the search for new leadership that will develop new programs for the downtown Eaton location of Preble Arts and continue growing the organizational vision. PCAA is seeking a collaborative, strategic, roll-up-your-sleeves leader, arts champion, influencer, and relationship builder, to serve as the next Executive Director of the PCAA. This is a unique opportunity for a skilled leader and proven manager to lead PCAA at a critical point in building its future.
The next Executive Director will have the opportunity to add to PCAA’s vision and build a robust suite of programs for Preble Arts and community outreach that include visual, performing, and creative arts while creating and implementing a funding plan to sustain the programs. The board seeks an Executive Director who will engage fully with the community, is sensitive to local culture and can bring new ideas to the table. The Executive Director will need to be flexible, collaborative, energetic, a visionary, have strong management skills and financially responsible. The primary responsibilities focus on fundraising and development, leadership, staff and facility management, financial management, program development and board governance. The Executive Director is responsible for the success and sustainability of the PCAA and its assets. The new leader must demonstrate a firm commitment to and passion for the PCAA’s mission and the community. For additional information, visit https://www.preblearts.org/Opportunities.
