The Vermont Studio Center (VSC) has selected Hope Sullivan as Executive Director, following an executive search process led by Arts Consulting Group (ACG). She will begin her tenure on May 22, 2023.
A seasoned executive with a wealth of experience in organizational visioning, branding, management, finance, and program development, Sullivan joins the VSC upon completion of her tenure as Executive Director at Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe, Vermont. Under Sullivan’s leadership, Spruce Peak Arts has significantly expanded its portfolio of donors and secured major gifts of $150,000 to support increased staff capacity. Sullivan has cultivated numerous mutually beneficial partnerships with local organizations, including area school districts, nonprofits, and small businesses, developing community-focused programming and securing Spruce Peak Arts’ position as an invaluable asset for the region.
Prior to Spruce Peak Performing Arts, Sullivan served as Executive Director at the Berkshire Arts Center (formerly known as IS183, Art School of the Berkshires), where, amongst her many achievements, she oversaw the launch of the Berkshire Residency Exchange program created in collaboration with Art Omi in Ghent, New York. The goal of the initiative was to bring artists from around the world to Pittsfield, Massachusetts to live and work in the community and generate conversations around and appreciation for different perspectives, artistic traditions, and cultures.
Sullivan also held senior positions at Barrington Stage Company, as Director of Development, and at Sharpe Partners, as Vice President and Director of Strategic Implementation. Her community affiliations include the Association of Performing Arts Professionals of Northern New England, New England Presenters, the Racial Equity Alliance of Stowe (REAL), the Stowe Arts & Culture Council, and the Stowe Planning Commission. Sullivan holds a bachelor of science from Ithaca College and a master of fine arts from Columbia University.
In making the announcement, VSC Interim Executive Director Brian Kennedy said, “Hope’s depth of experience and expertise in running arts organizations will allow her to build on VSC’s legacy as one of the largest international artists’ and writers’ residency programs in the United States.”
VSC Board Chair Barbara Marks added, “Beyond having the extensive skills needed to help VSC continue to thrive, Hope shows extraordinary commitment to community building and engagement, a trait that we value immensely in our tight-knit community.”
“I'm thrilled to be joining the VSC, a unique and inspiring institution with an international reputation for supporting artists and writers, and for nurturing imagination and making,” said Sullivan. “I'm honored to play my part in upholding VSC's mission to provide studio residencies in an inclusive community, honoring creative work as the communication of spirit through form. The arts make the world a better place, enriching us all.”
"Congratulations to the board and staff of the VSC on welcoming Hope Sullivan as their new Executive Director," said ACG Vice President Renée Danger-James. "Hope is a visionary leader with a deep and shared commitment to nurturing the work of artist development and advancement in our society. Hope's dedication to the cultivation of the arts in Vermont and beyond complements the rich history of the VSC and the achievements of their staff and board."
March 2023