Parks Exhibition Center manager
Cristie Scott is the next speaker at the Association of Idyllwild Arts Foundation’s ongoing series Spotlight on Leadership. She is the new manager of the campus gallery, the Parks Exhibition Center.
Scott will speak about the gallery’s many-faceted roles in enriching the artistic lives of the Summer Program and Arts Academy students, as well as providing a cultural forum for the Idyllwild community.
Scott is not new to Idyllwild Arts. Prior to assuming Parks Exhibition management, she worked for the Summer Program coordinating Native Arts and Adult Arts programs during the summers of 2006 to 2008, as well as the summer of 2010.
Prior to assuming her dual roles of gallery manager and faculty member teaching arts fundamentals to freshmen and certain sophomores, Scott served as executive director of the Durango Arts Center. As executive director, Scott oversaw staff, fundraising, strategic planning, community outreach, and advocacy and artist service programs.
Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from the University of Puget Sound and a master’s degree in Visual Arts Administration, with a concentration in nonprofit management from New York University, Steinhardt.
In her Spotlight talk, Scott will focus on the vital service the Parks Exhibition Center provides to the Summer Program, Academy and Idyllwild community. During the Summer Program, the center continues the long tradition of the Idyllwild Arts Foundation in teaching and featuring Native American arts — artwork, jewelry, weavings and pottery. During the summer, the center exhibits the work of summer faculty’s themed programs, hot clay and metals.
From September through May, the Idyllwild Arts Academy year, the center is a vital component of the Academy’s Visual Arts Department, proffering students the opportunity to view art in a professional setting, as well as to show their own work.
The center also brings in respected professionals for visiting artist shows, lectures and workshops, giving students and community members the opportunity to dialogue with established artists.
In her role as VA faculty member, Scott teaches visual arts fundamentals, including form, structure and materials. “I also teach the language of art, providing a common vocabulary for arts discussion,” said Scott.
Spotlight on Leadership is held in the Fireside Room of Nelson Dining Hall on campus. Scott’s talk is at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 12. There is no charge for admission and the community is encouraged to attend.