The board of directors of the Brewery Arts Center accepted the resignation of Executive Director John Procaccini at its Wednesday meeting.
Jed Block, the vice president of the board, said Procaccini's parting with the position was "amicable" and that he will continue to work for the organization as a consultant by overseeing programming and other ongoing grant projects. The consulting contract still is under negotiation.
Meanwhile, Procaccini also will work on separate projects in the region after he steps down in late September from the executive director position, a job that started to require more attention to the organization's financial health than to its core mission of providing art for the community.
"John was spending more time doing financial stuff to make sure the lights and everything were on than he was able to do what he loved," Block said. "It just wasn't his passion."
The budget for the Brewery Arts Center has been strained since the start of the recession, falling to $500,000 for the next fiscal year, down from more than $700,000 last year. Three years ago the center's budget was just less than $1 million.
Block said donations and government grants had fallen dramatically over the past year, tightening the center's budget and the programming it offers.
Under his new role as consultant, Procaccini still would work on programs for the center, but would no longer be in charge of its daily operations.
"Our intention is to see if we can get an administrator in there and be able to do some of the stuff through the contract with John without increasing the budget," Block said.
Bruce Robertson, board president, said the search for an interim executive director has already started, but may take weeks to finish.
Since he was hired as the center's executive director in May 2005, Procaccini has overseen a number of changes at the Brewery Arts Center, including restoration projects on the property, improving Access Carson City Television and adding professional stage equipment for downtown performances through a partnership with the city.
Procaccini also secured a $300,000 State Historical Preservation Office grant to restore the brick work on the center's facade.
"We're excited that he's staying with us," Robertson said. "We're not quite done getting the contract finalized, but we hope he'll be a part of it for a long time to come."