Orcas Center is pleased to announce its hire of Brian Kemp as executive director. Brian has held business development and creative programming positions at several well-known corporations including Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Hasbro and most recently The Boeing Company. A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, with postgraduate studies in arts management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Kemp looks forward to bringing his passion for the arts and business acumen to Orcas Center:
“It is a distinct pleasure to join the Orcas Center as its new executive director. I am thrilled to contribute my passion and experience to this leadership role and honored to have the opportunity to serve the Orcas Island community. I look forward to working with the board, staff, and supporters to develop great programming and to chart the Center’s course for growth in building a sustainable arts organization for generations to come.”
The hiring of the new executive director concludes a comprehensive process that consisted of application screenings and two rounds of interviews by a selection committee of more than 30 community members in addition to the board of trustees. Additionally, each of the four finalists met with community members at public sessions that permitted questions and comments from Orcas Center members, the staff and the general public. The board unanimously approved the selection committee’s recommendation to offer the position to Kemp.
“The board of trustees is pleased to have Kemp, who is very familiar with Orcas Island having been a part-time resident for many years, joining Orcas Center and making our Island his full time home. The board wishes to convey its heartfelt appreciation for the assistance and support of more than 30 community members, the Orcas Center staff and numerous friends of the Orcas Center who contributed their expertise and guidance to this selection process. We are excited as we look forward to having Kemp lead us to a financially strong and artistically stellar future at Orcas Center.
The Board is especially grateful to Margie Doyle who has done an amazing job as Interim Executive Director,” said Tom Fiscus, President of the Orcas Center Board of Trustees.
Kemp is expected to assume his duties not later than May 1. Orcas Center will hold an introductory reception at a date soon to be announced and all are welcome to attend. Please watch for the reception announcement to come. The board and staff are anxious to begin working with Kemp to continue Orcas Center’s mission of providing Orcas Islanders with artistic and cultural experiences that nourish our hearts, minds and souls.
