HOUSTON, June 14, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Houston Arts Alliance's Board of Directors announces that after an extensive national search, Jonathon Glus will become its Chief Executive Officer effective June 18. In this new role, Glus will serve as the point person to continue positioning HAA as the mecca for Houston arts by realigning programmatic activities with the organization's expanded goals, and cultivating and collaborating with local, regional and national stakeholders to strengthen Houston's position of a world-class destination for the arts. Additionally, Glus will oversee the acquisition, conservation and preservation of the City of Houston's public art collection that exceeds 400 pieces throughout the city. Glus will be responsible for a staff and a budget of more than $10 million primarily dedicated for grants and services. A photo of Glus accompanying this release is available at: http://www.cachh.org/photoarchives.html.
"We are thrilled to have Jonathon join HAA as our CEO," said Argentina M. James, HAA board president. "This is an exciting time for the arts community in Houston with HAA serving as the newly aligned arts advocacy organization poised as the primary vehicle to promote and leverage the arts. Jonathon comes with a demonstrated expertise in understanding what the organization and the diverse art forms it represents need to advance Houston as a culturally mature destination for the arts."
Glus was with the city of Pasadena, Calif. since March 1999. He was responsible for the division of the city that supports, expands and promotes the cultural sector in Pasadena. The cultural affairs division includes an extensive private development public art program and curates a city-owned public art collection. The division also includes an annual arts and culture grants program and provides ongoing technical assistance to arts and culture organizations and artists.
"Three major things attracted me to the Houston Arts Alliance," said Glus. "First, HAA is a clean slate. It is a young organization and is still developing its brand and footprint in the city. Also, it's a nonprofit, so it's not tethered to another organization, which will give us the ability to push our mission and support the other local art organizations in a unique way. Finally, Houston is ripe for an organization like HAA. The city has such wonderful galleries, artists, theaters and public art. HAA can promote this on a national level and give the region another level of sophistication as an arts city. That's one of the things I am most excited about."
Prior to working in California, Glus was executive director of the Evanston Arts Council, in metropolitan Chicago. In that position, Glus managed a staff of more than 50 and directed a visual and performing arts complex that included galleries, two theatres, studios and gardens. He was responsible for three regional festivals, an arts camp and apprentice program for more than 500 youth, an extensive city art collection and was heavily involved in cultural tourism. Glus also served as an associate curator and exhibitions coordinator at the International Sculpture Center in Washington, D.C. He began his career in the art industry on the editorial staff at SCULPTURE magazine, also in Washington, D.C.
Glus received his bachelors of science in public administration from Indiana University, completed post graduate studies at the University of Illinois in Art History and has received a certification in urban economics from University of Kent in Canterbury England.
PHOTO CAPTION: Jonathon Glus, Houston Arts Alliance CEO
About The Houston Arts Alliance
The HAA is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization that seeks to advance the nonprofit arts industry in the Houston region, thus contributing to the enhancement of the region's quality of life, economic competitiveness and attractiveness as a tourist destination. Its mission is to nurture, fund, advocate, and promote participation in the arts in Houston and Harris County. With more than 500 arts organizations and 12,000 visual and performing artists in the region, Houston continues to evolve nationally and internationally as a culturally rich city that provides residents and visitors with a diverse repertoire of visual and performing art. The organization seeks to advance the nonprofit arts industry in the Houston region, thus contributing to the enhancement of the region's quality of life, economic competitiveness and attractiveness as a tourist destination. The HAA was newly formed through the merger of three civic arts institutions: the Cultural Arts Council Houston/Harris County, the Municipal Art Commission and the Civic Art Committee in August of 2006. For more information visit the HAA web site at www.haatx.com.