Sarah Powers named director of Office of Raleigh Arts

Sarah Powers has been named the new executive director of the Office of Raleigh Arts, the city announced Tuesday.

Powers, who was awarded the 2016 Raleigh Medal of Arts, is the current executive director of Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh. She has more than 15 years of experience as an artist, administrator and volunteer, according to a news release.

The city’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department received more than 87 applications for the job, the news release said. A search committee chose Powers because of her “leadership style and extensive experience growing and supporting the arts community in Raleigh.”

Powers, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, helped grow Visual Art Exchange, which hosts exhibitions, continuing education programs and the SPARKcon arts festival.

“This is an exciting time to live in Raleigh,” Powers said in the release. “We are experiencing an arts and culture explosion driven by the work of our artists and arts community and the support of the City of Raleigh. The Raleigh Arts Plan sets a course to take advantage of this enthusiasm for creativity and ensure every resident has access to the arts in their own way. I am thrilled and honored to lead the team who will bring this plan to life.”

Powers is replacing Jerry Bolas, who retired in May. She will start the job in August.

This story was originally published July 12, 2016 at 3:07 PM with the headline "Sarah Powers named director of Office of Raleigh Arts."