The Cattaraugus County Arts Council is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Executive Director, Tina Hastings, who will begin her tenure in June of 2014. Tina comes to the Arts Council with a strong background in arts administration and will replace former executive director, Anne Conroy-Baiter.

Most recently Tina served as the Director of the Cathy and Jesse Marion Art Gallery at SUNY Fredonia where she enjoyed working with regional, national, and international artists in all mediums and curating diverse exhibitions, lecture series, and gallery talks for the campus and community. During her time at SUNY Fredonia she also developed and taught courses for students in the college’s Museum Studies program.

Tina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology as well as a Masters of Public Administration, both from Southern Illinois University. Originally from central Ohio, she and her family moved to western New York in 2007 when her husband accepted a teaching position at SUNY Fredonia.

As CCAC’s Executive Director, Tina will assume responsibility for day-to-day operations of the organization, strategic leadership, planning and outreach, financial management and fundraising, and developing and overseeing programs and services. In addition, she will continue CCAC’s work in improving quality of life in the region, and advocating for the role of arts and culture in the Southern Tier.

The Arts Council’s Board of Directors and staff are optimistic about the organization’s next phase of development. “We believe Tina will guide CCAC toward a new chapter of strategic, positive growth and expansion of services,” commented Thomas Barnes, president of CCAC’s Board of Directors. “She’ll be focusing on grant writing and expanding our resource development capabilities in order to provide for a bright and long future for the important work that the Arts Council accomplishes.”

Of her new role as Executive Director, Tina notes, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead a thriving arts organization. This summer I plan to spend a lot of time getting to know the programs, members, and community. Everyone associated with CCAC is so committed to its success and I am excited to be counted as part of the team working to find new ways to promote and support the arts in the region.”