Around The Coyote (ATC), the Wicker Park-based organization known for annually staging a very diverse arts festival, has hired Amy Brandolino as its new executive Director. Brandolino, who holds a Masters in Humanities with a concentration in 20th Century American Art History from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. in Art History from Loyola University Chicago, served as the Museum Educator, Adult and Docent Programs, for the Terra Museum of American Art. Her responsibilities there included planning public programming, managing events, and training more than 70 docent volunteers.
"We're very excited about Amy Brandolino, and the passion we think she'll bring to this job," says Mike Cramer, ATC board president. "Around The Coyote needs an executive director with the vision to take the organization into the future, but also the ability and drive to handle lots of day-to-day challenges."
"I was attracted to ATC's mission of helping emerging artists and enriching the community through art," says Brandolino. "I see artists who have great work and are struggling—and it's exciting to be able to support them."
Prior to working at the Terra, Brandolino was the curator at Chicago's Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center, worked as a gallery assistant at Loyola's Martin D'Arcy Museum, and taught at the American Academy of Art and William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL.
Brandolino replaces Olga Stefan, who left after five years at ATC's helm. Stefan collaborated with community organizations and agencies to build Around The Coyote into an organization with year-round impact on the community. She was largely responsible for establishing ATC's unique Winter Arts Festival; instituting the Education Outreach Program to offer art education for adults and children; founding the Artist-in-Residence Program; establishing the ATC Space gallery; and creating an annual mural project with neighborhood high school students.
"Olga has done a great deal for Around The Coyote and the community," says Cramer. "We expect Amy to continue that good work and help take Around The Coyote to the proverbial 'next level.'"
"It seems the Executive Director position calls for a jack-of-all-trades. That's me," says Brandolino. "And, with the Fall Arts Festival coming up in September, I'll be hitting the ground running."
Around The Coyote, a non-profit multidisciplinary arts organization, operates programs throughout the year encompassing all artistic disciplines. Founded in 1989, ATC's activities now include gallery exhibitions, educational outreach, artist-in-residence program, membership program, as well as its Fall and Winter Arts Festivals. This year's Fall Arts Festival will be held in Wicker Park Sept. 5-7.
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