Obama Names Kansas City Arts Leader to Take Helm at NEA
February 13, 2014 | Read Time: 1 minute
President Obama on Wednesday nominated Jane Chu, president of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, to lead the National Endowment for the Arts, reports The Washington Post.
The top position at the federal grant-making agency has been vacant since the retirement of Broadway producer Rocco Landesman stepped down as NEA chair at the end of 2012.
Ms. Chu has led the Kauffman Center since 2006 and oversaw completion in 2011 of its donor-funded, $326-million performance venue, a recession-bucking achievement that won her national acclaim in arts-management circles. The president cited Ms Chu’s “lifelong passion for the arts and her background in philanthropy” in announcing the appointment.
Read a Chronicle of Philanthropy article about the Kauffman Center fundraising drive.
