After seven years at Brooklyn Arts Council, Executive Director Charlotte A. Cohen will be stepping down on August 31, 2022 to pursue new career opportunities, the Board of Directors announced today.
“I am proud of accomplishing what I set out to do when I came to Brooklyn Arts Council seven years ago - to create a strong and stable foundation for the organization to grow for another fifty years,” said Ms. Cohen, who continued, “I look forward to taking on my next challenge, which will be helping another organization attain the solid base for growth that I have achieved here. I built a committed, smart, and energetic team and restructured our programs and grants to maximize the benefit we provide to artists in Brooklyn. Our work these past years has been truly responsive to local artists so that they can stay in Brooklyn and earn a living practicing their art. I look forward to seeing the energy and ideas that new leadership will bring to this beloved organization.”
Board Chair Toni Yuille Williams stated: “Charlotte has been a stalwart asset to Brooklyn Arts Council. She is a thoughtful manager and leader. One of the qualities I admire most in her is that she consistently prioritizes the artists. Every decision she makes is focused on how it will impact Brooklyn's artists in a meaningful way and enable them to make a career from their art. Charlotte carried this organization through the challenges of Covid, a rapidly changing political climate, and our own board transformation, staying true to her passion for Brooklyn and Brooklyn's artists. We offer our gratitude for her steady hand as a leader.”
Under Ms. Cohen’s leadership, Brooklyn Arts Council:
Gave more funding to a greater number of artists than ever before - in fiscal year 2022, over $1.3 million in grants was distributed to 238 artists/groups.
Brought in private funding for grant-making and fostered steady private support through expanded foundation grant-seeking.
Created the Brooklyn Innovation Institute centered around four themes to support artists and be responsive to their needs of today:
Creative process
Business development
Wellness
Social justice
Focused on professional development for artists through new programs, cohorts, and intensified training.
Fostered partnership among all five NYC arts councils to collaborate on DEIA-centered work to provide greater access and funding for BIPOC artists.
The Board of Directors will be conducting a search for a transformative leader to take Brooklyn Arts Council to the next level of relevance, and has engaged Arts Consulting Group to lead the search. They specialize in executive recruitment for arts organizations with special emphasis on arts councils.