Kate Hackman, Artistic Director, will be leaving Charlotte Street Foundation after more than 10 years of outstanding service to the organization and the Kansas City community. Hackman, formerly Co-Director of Charlotte Street, will end her service on June 30, 2014 to explore new opportunities after a period of rest and travel.
“Kate’s contributions to the growth and development of Charlotte Street have made a lasting impact on the lives of individual artists in Kansas City. While we will miss her greatly, we also are excited for her and look with great anticipation for the next step in her career,” says Jon Taylor, president of the board of directors.
Hackman will spend the coming months working with Executive Director Julie Gordon Dalgleish, who assumed her position in August 2013, and the board of directors to follow through on a program assessment beginning in March. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done over the past decade, and the time seems right for me to move on,” Hackman said. “Charlotte Street is making a difference in the lives of Kansas City artists and in the community’s appreciation for their valuable role. The upcoming program assessment, which is one of our regular ‘check ins’ with artists, will help us identify ways to further strengthen the Foundation’s programs after my departure. I have great confidence in Julie and in the Foundation’s strong board of directors to lead the organization forward.”
A Rich History
Hackman joined Founder David Hughes, Jr. in 2004, at the critical point in Charlotte Street’s history when the organization gained not-for-profit status and launched its innovative Urban Culture Project (UCP). She helped plan this effort to transform vacant downtown spaces into new venues for artist-driven programming, and then to direct the program as it grew. Other prominent accomplishments include establishing the Studio Residency Program, securing long-term support for UCP programming from the Andy Warhol Foundation and the Missouri Arts Council (among others), steering the launch of the Rocket Grants Program, and creating the Curatorial Residency Program.
She also coordinated the annual Visual and Generative Performing Artist Awards selection processes, and developed ongoing programmatic partnerships with institutions including Kansas City Art Institute, University of Missouri-Kansas City, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and American Institute of Architects-Kansas City. Her most cherished accomplishment is the myriad of ways in which she has facilitated opportunities for artists in Kansas City, and contributed to nurturing an environment in which artists may thrive.
After many years of working with Hackman, Saralyn Reece Hardy, Marilyn Stokstad Director of the Spencer Museum of Art, says, “Kate has made such a difference, characterized by her abiding commitment to artists, her insights, and her personal and professional investment in encouraging new work. At the Spencer, we look forward not only to participating in Kate’s future endeavors, but also to working with Charlotte Street to continue Kate’s legacy of supporting innovative arts in our region.”
Looking Ahead
Charlotte Street will begin a search to fill Hackman’s position later in the year, after the program assessment and subsequent planning process have been completed. During the interim, Charlotte Street has invited Curator-in-Residence Danny Orendorff to extend his curatorial residency for six months, through the end of 2014. In addition to curating a new fall exhibit at la Esquina, he will participate in Charlotte Street’s program assessment and planning process. With all current programming planned through summer 2015, staff is poised for a smooth transition. Pat Alexander will assume full oversight of the Studio Residency program, taking on additional responsibility in 2014. Julia Cole will continue to manage the Rocket Grants program, now in its fifth year. Dalgleish, with many years of experience in managing and developing programs for artists, will head this team.
Says Dalgleish, “These past months working with Kate have made my transition not only smooth, but extremely enjoyable. She is a wonderful partner, and I look with awe and respect at the exceptional programming she has been instrumental in developing. I know that her next adventure will mark another valued contribution to Kansas City, and I look forward the chance that we might find new ways to work together in the future.”
