Center of Creative Arts (COCA) has selected Orlando Graves Bolaños as Senior Director of Arts Programming, following an executive search process led by Arts Consulting Group (ACG). He began his tenure on June 20, 2022.
Educator, trainer, director of education, and gallery director, Graves Bolaños brings more than 20 years of international experience collaborating with artists in a wide range of residency models and educational programming. Graves Bolaños has most recently worked at The DoSeum in San Antonio, Texas, where he was Director of Gallery Facilitation & Experience. He was responsible for incorporating artists and art education into interactive, hands-on exhibitions and was a key member of the leadership team for reopening the museum with COVID-19 pandemic safety measures. Graves Bolaños also served as The DoSeum’s Art Education Manager. He supported the launch of the 68,000-square-foot children’s museum, created, and designed the artist-in-residence program, and was a core educator for camps and field experiences for children.
Previously he also served as an Instructor at the University of Texas San Antonio in the Department of Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning, Deputy Director of Education at Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, and Trainer/Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Imantia Desarrollo Directivo in Madrid. He is a dedicated leader in promoting positive social change throughout the arts community, with a demonstrated expertise in fostering diversity, equity, and intercultural coexistence.
Graves Bolaños earned a master of fine arts in studio art from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain and is completing the Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching Ph.D. program at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He also holds a Diploma de Estudios Avanzados/Advanced Studies Diploma and a Certificado de Aptitud Pedagógica/ Spanish Teacher Certification both from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.
In making the announcement, COCA Executive Director Kelly Pollock said, “Orlando brings deep understanding as an arts educator and administrator and has thoughtfully engaged diverse communities around the world in artistic experiences. We are thrilled to welcome Orlando to COCA’s leadership team and the St. Louis arts community.”
“I am thrilled to be joining the COCA family and its vibrant vision and culture. I am honored to be surrounded by a team of high-performing professionals who intimately understand the transformative power of the arts for children and youth,” said Graves Bolaños. “I look forward to working with everyone to grow programs that further engage and welcome the community-at-large.”
“Congratulations to Orlando Graves Bolaños on his appointment and to the Center of Creative Arts board and staff as they embark on this new exciting phase,” said ACG Senior Vice President Menon Dwarka. “Mr. Graves Bolaños has an unmistakable versatility and resourcefulness that will help the Center of Creative Arts’ programming continue to flourish, inspire, and educate.”
June 2022