City arts board appoints business leader as new director

The Capital City Arts Initiative Board of Directors announced Thursday that long-time Carson City economic development leader Joe McCarthy will become the organization's executive director beginning July 1. He replaces Sharon Rosse, who founded the CCAI and will remain on it's board of directors.

"I'm both honored and humbled because I am coming in behind Sharon Rosse, who was instrumental in building (the CCAI)," McCarthy said Thursday, noting that the organization conducted a nationwide search to fill the position. "I'm looking forward to being a part of an energetic smart and visionary type of organization.

"Sharon is the light by which CCAI burns bright, both her skill as an administrator and keen understanding of visual art - she's a professional artist herself - allow this organization to become an important member of the community."

Although McCarthy most recently has worked in economic development as the Carson City Director of Business Development, he's always worked closely with art organizations. He was the executive director of the Brewery Arts Center from 1996-2002 and established both the Carson City Arts & Culture Coalition and Carson City Cultural Commission, a city agency.

The partnership that already exists between the city and arts organizations, "allows for a mingling of government, cultural and arts efforts for all of our citizens to enjoy," McCarthy said. "It is my strong feeling that a community that's rich in culture, rich in art will also be rich in economic opportunity for its citizens. Communities that fail to put their cultural community and their artistic community in full partnership with all their other economic development efforts have a much more difficult time maintaining a quality of life and economic prosperity. So the arts and culture are truly integral to having a community that we want to live in, we want to raise our children in."

On welcoming McCarthy to the CCAI, the board noted his "commitment, energy, and vision are vital to CCAI and to the arts in Northern Nevada."

"We are thrilled to have Joe join CCAI," Board President Cyndy Brenneman said in a statement. "We look forward to his leadership and continuing CCAI's work bringing art to our community through exhibitions, speakers' programs, and arts in the schools."

McCarthy has lived in Northern Nevada for 32 years and is married with two adult children. He earned a bachelor of art degree in history from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and a master of arts in curriculum development from State University of New York, Albany. He also has completed graduate coursework from the University of Nevada, Reno.

McCarthy noted three aspects of the work of CCAI as being of major importance to the community.

Arts in Education brings a variety of guest artists and pushes students to reconsider preconceived notions about art. It also incorporates technologies, history, science and math to provide a learning environment that extends into other curriculums.

The exhibition program uses space in public buildings.

"We take advantage of a terrific wall space at the court house and rotate really challenging and high concept forms of art," he said.

The Nevada Neighbors Series at the Carson City library brings in lecturers, curators from museum and art galleries from throughout the west.

"Our goal as an organization is not only to support art ourselves but to raise awareness and provide collaboration with other art organizations in area," McCarthy said.

For additional information visit CCAI's website at www.arts-initiative.org.

CCAI is funded, in part, by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; Carson City Office of Business Development; Community Foundation of Western Nevada; Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts; Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation; U.S. Bancorp Foundation; Nevada Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities; Carson City Library; CCAI Business Leaders: Allison, MacKenzie, Pavlakis, Wright & Fagan, Coldwell Banker Best Sellers, Dr. Bob Gorrindo, Data Graphics, Pro-Form Labs, Sierra Nevada Association of Realtors, and Vineburg Machining, Inc.