PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

May 2000 to present:
Creative Capital Foundation, New York, NY (creative-capital.org)
Director, Programs & Initiatives; Director, Grants & Services; Acting Director, MapFund; Grants Officer

Creative Capital supports innovative and adventurous artists across the country through funding, counsel and career development services to artists pursuing innovative projects in: Film/Video, Literature, Emerging Fields, Performing and Visual Arts. Since 1999, it has committed more than $29 million in financial and advisory support to 418 projects representing 529 artists. Creative Capital provides each funded project with up to $50,000 in direct funding and career development services valued at $40,000, for a total commitment of up to $90,000 per project.

As Director, Programs & Initiatives (December 2009 - Present):

I initiate, design, and administer programs to benefit current and alumni grantee artists and the foundation as a whole. Develop budgets, marketing strategies, public programming, educational and entrepreneurial initiatives in coordination with exhibitions, special projects, and new programs; Develop partnerships with individuals, businesses and organizations – in the arts and beyond – to support innovative artists. Assess and improve existing artist services programs. Advise a significant subset of grantee artists regarding the realization of their projects, providing strategic insight and connecting them to a wide range of internal and external resources. Oversee the planning, programmatic content, staffing and management of Orientation, Pre-Retreat, and Retreat gatherings. Serve on the organization’s management team and act as a liaison/advisor to the other divisions and ancillary programs of the foundation, including the Development, Communication, Grantmaking divisions, the Professional Development Program, the Multi-Arts Production Fund (MAP Fund), Andy Warhol Arts Writer’s Grant Programs, and the Doris Duke Performing Arts Awards. Help develop, shape, and refine organizational policies. Represent the foundation at networking, outreach, educational and professional gatherings. Supervise staff and consultants as needed to fulfill job duties.

As Director of Grants & Services (January 2004 - December 2009):

I was responsible for administration of the foundation’s system of grantmaking and comprehensive artist services. Allocated grantee funding with an annual budget of $1.2 million; by the end of 2009 I had advised (in varying degrees of engagement) over 400 artists working on 325 funded projects.

As Grants Officer (May 2000 - December 2003):

Managed the grantmaking process for the foundation. Also served two years as acting Director of Rockefeller Foundation Multi-Arts Production Fund (MAP Fund) administered by Creative Capital.

February 1996 - September 1999
Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, Seattle, WA (cityofseattle.net/arts)
Curator & Collection Manager

Designed, developed, budgeted, and administered the acquisition, maintenance and conservation of the City of Seattle's Portable Works Public Art Collection. Expanded both the size and scope of this circulating municipal collection of art; curated/organized numerous exhibitions from the collection for both municipal and public spaces; served as project manager for site integrated public art projects.

February 1983 - December 2003
Sean Elwood Fine Arts, New York, NY /Seattle, WA
Owner/Sole Proprietor

I launched SEFA to organize my activities as a print publisher, freelance curator, art writer, consultant, and art dealer - including two years as co-owner/proprietor of the Fuller/Elwood Gallery in Seattle.

December 1986 - November 1990
Centrum Foundation, Seattle/Port Townsend, WA (centrum.org)
Manager of Visual Arts Programs

Administered all aspects of artist residency and print publication programs for this non-profit art organization. Expanded sales and publications program, established archive collection; and added residencies for architects.

September 1980 - November 1986
Ronald Feldman Fine Arts Inc, New York, NY (feldmangallery.com)
Director for Special Projects

Initiated and implemented special projects for this internationally recognized commercial art gallery, including publications, installations, performances, as well as participating in the day to day exhibition, promotion & sales of artists represented or published by the gallery.

Other Relevant Professional Experience

International Network for the Arts, New York, NY - Art Administrator
Northwest Museum of Art & Culture, Spokane, WA - Designer & Assistant Curator
World’s Fair, Spokane, WA - Assistant to Director of Visual Arts

Current & Previous Affiliations

Triple Canopy, Brooklyn, NY, Board Member, 2010 / Present
Dieu Donné Papermill, New York, NY, Exhibition Committee, 2011 / Present
Watts Houses Project, Los Angeles, CA, Advisory Board, 2009 / Present
Lower East Side Printshop, New York, NY
Advisory Board Member, formerly Board Vice President & Treasurer, 2003 / 2009
Louisiana Artworks, New Orleans, LA, Advisory Board, 2009 / 2010
Literary Ventures Fund Inc., Boston, MA, Former Advisory Board 2007 / 2009
Kirkland Art Center, Kirkland, WA, Adjunct Art Curator, 1997 / 1999
Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA, Art Committee, 1998 / 1999
Reflex Art Magazine, Seattle, WA, Board Member and President, 1992 / 1996

Awards

Mayoral Citation, City of Seattle, Seattle, WA
George N. Shuster Memorial Award, Hunter College, New York, NY
Max Beckmann Memorial Scholarship, Brooklyn Museum Art School, Brooklyn, NY

Education

Hunter College, New York, NY, Master of Arts in Visual Arts
Brooklyn Museum Art School, Brooklyn, NY, Max Beckmann Scholar
Washington State University, Pullman, WA, Bachelor of Arts/Fine Arts

References, a bibliography, lists of curatorial projects and art publications, public presentations, selection panels and donations of artworks to public collections are available upon request.

Selection Panels

Cornish School of the Arts, Seattle, WA, Final Juror, “The Neddy” Award, an annual artist award program supported by the Behnke Foundation in memory of Robert E. (“Ned”) Behnke and in celebration of his life as an artist, 2013
The Behnke Foundation, Seattle, WA, Nominator, Behnke Artist Fellows, 2002
Seattle Arts Commission, Seattle, WA, Panelist - Acquisition Panel, 2001
Atlanta Bureau Cultural Affairs, Atlanta, GA, Panelist- Acquisition Panel, 2001
Regional Arts & Culture Council, Portland, OR, Panelist-Acquisition Panel, 1999
King County Arts Commission, Seattle, WA
Panelist- Acquisition Panel, 1999, and Panelist - Grants to Organizations, 1994
Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA, Panelist - Acquisition Panel, 1993

Selected Public Presentations (Listed by presenting organization)

College Art Association Annual Conventions (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013)
Presenter of annual special presentations by Creative Capital artists at CAA
Member of “Foundations Panel”, (2005), Atlanta, GA
Panel Member: Activating Cultural Discourse: Models of Civic Engagement and Public Art Practice, (2004), Seattle, WA
The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York City
Funder Panel: Grants for Individual Artists, 2004
Connecticut Commission on the Arts, Tourism, History & Film (The Urban Arts Initiative), New Haven, CT - Grants for Individual Artists-part of A Tool Box for Funding the Arts (Talk), 2004
The Foundation Center, New York City- (2004, 2006, 2008, 2011)
Grants and Fiscal Sponsorship for Individuals in the Arts (Panel), 2004, and Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in the Arts (Talk), 2003
Camera Club of New York, New York City
Opportunities for Artists (Talk), 2003

Multiple outreach presentations for Creative Capital and The Rockefeller MAP Fund: including presentations to: Art New York, Seattle Arts Commission, Chicago NOVA Art Fair, as well as numerous online informational chat sessions.