United Arts of Central Florida has selected Jennifer Clark Evins as President and CEO, following an executive search process led by Arts Consulting Group (ACG). She began her tenure on June 21, 2021.
For more than a decade, Ms. Evins held various leadership roles at Chapman Cultural Center, a South Carolina arts agency that provides major funding and support for local arts and culture organizations. Most recently serving as the President and CEO, she oversaw facility operations, marketing, cultural tourism, arts education, grantmaking, public art, and advocacy. She also facilitated equity, diversity, and inclusion training for the cultural sector and expanded cultural facilities to include affordable studios and co-workspaces for artists to collaborate, teach, and hone their skills. Prior to her time at Chapman Cultural Center, Ms. Evins worked in public relations and marketing within the for-profit sector.
Ms. Evins has been committed to learning and leading with a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts. She has provided strategic leadership and innovation across multiple communities to advance arts, science, and history to benefit all people in a meaningful and equitable way. Ms. Evins has been sought after for her visionary, strategic, and collaborative leadership in the areas of education, economic development, community visioning, and leadership development. She has served on the boards of numerous arts and culture organizations, including the Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg, Ballet Spartanburg, and Spartanburg Philharmonic. Ms. Evins is an Upstate Diversity Leadership Institute Fellow through the Riley Institute at Furman University and holds a bachelor of arts degree in business from Hanover College.
In making the announcement, Board of Directors Chair Brendan Lynch said, “The United Arts Board of Directors is incredibly excited to have Jennifer join the team. With her extensive experience leading a united arts agency coupled with her public affairs and community relations knowledge, we are confident she will provide valuable leadership that will directly impact and benefit the local arts community, as well as the greater Central Florida community.”
“ACG was honored to work with the United Arts of Central Florida team on the national executive search process for its next President and CEO,” said ACG Senior Vice President Wyona Lynch-McWhite. “As a passionate advocate for the arts with vast experience in grantmaking and community engagement, Jennifer Clark Evins is sure to enhance the agency’s commitment to enriching Central Florida’s diverse and energetic community through art, music, science, dance, history, and theater.”
October 2021