Salina Art Center

Salina Art Center names new director

Salina, Kansas – The Salina Art Center, a nationally recognized and accredited contemporary art museum, has named museum professional Christopher Byron Cook as Executive Director/Curator, board president Sydney Soderberg announced today.

Currently curator of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Missouri, Cook begins his new duties on July 1, 2009.  He succeeds Heather Ferrell, who is currently Executive Director of the Salt Lake Art Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“We were quickly drawn to Chris both professionally and personally.  He offers a strong knowledge of modern and contemporary art and embraces diversity, experimentation and collaboration.  He engages people with his intelligence and energy and wants to be a part of the Art Center’s tradition of using contemporary art as the springboard for community conversations about today’s challenging issues,” said Sydney Soderberg. 

Mr. Cook received his BA in art history from the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, and his MA in art history, theory, and criticism from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.  Prior to his position at the Kemper Museum, Mr. Cook served as curator of the Sioux City Art Center, Sioux City, IA.  He was a lecturer in the Art History department at the Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO, and held internships at The Chinati Foundation, Marfa, TX, the Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, FL, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
 
“I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the dedicated team at the Salina Art Center,” Cook says. “The Art Center’s impressive track record of diverse, thought-provoking public programs is a testament to the commitment of the staff, volunteers, and trustees, and the strong advocacy for the arts in the community at large. It will be an honor to continue the Art Center’s institutional mission and legacy, and to position the Art Center as a beacon of ideas and discourse in our cultural landscape.”

“Chris’s strong connections with many regional and national artists will be a wonderful resource for planning innovative exhibitions and building a diverse Artist-in-Residence program,” Soderberg says. “His seven years of progressive curatorial experience in art museums will help us realize our mission of creating exchanges among art, artists, and audiences that reveal life.” 
The Salina Art Center is a non-collecting contemporary art museum and education center located in Salina, Kansas, and is accredited by the American Association of Museums. Founded in 1978, the Art Center has developed a national reputation as an innovative, artist-supportive and audience-responsive institution recognized for its contemporary exhibitions and programming. More than 35,000 adults and children participate each year in Art Center exhibitions, films and programs. Current facilities include an over 6,000 square foot gallery and education center, a 90-seat Art Center Cinema, and a 6,000 square foot newly-renovated warehouse housing the SAC’s artist-in-residence program.
 
The Salina Art Center is located at 242 S. Santa Fe in downtown Salina. The Cinema is located a block away at 150 S. Santa Fe and the Warehouse is just two blocks east of there at 149 S. 4th Street.  Business office hours are from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.  Art Center galleries are open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 5:00 pm, and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Admission to the galleries is free. For more information and Cinema showtimes visit http://www.salinaartcenter.org.