Leadership Changes Announced at Arts Habitat
For immediate release:
October 24, 2016
Leadership Changes Announced at Arts Habitat
(Edmonton, AB) Arts Habitat Edmonton is a non-profit company engaged in managing and developing space for the arts. Today, David Tam, Chairman of the Arts Habitat Board of Directors, announces the retirement of Executive Director Linda Huffman. Through her seven years with the organization, Huffman was instrumental in building strong and lasting relationships with numerous community partners and stakeholders.
Said Tam, “Linda has given outstanding leadership to our organization. She leaves us in excellent shape, with a number of exciting projects ready to reach fruition. Linda’s warmth, good humour and imaginative administrative style will be missed by everyone involved with ArtsHab, and we wish her a happy, healthy and rewarding retirement.”
Huffman describes her time at Arts Habitat as one of the most challenging and exciting experiences of her career. “The creation of Arts Hub 118, the affordable housing cooperative for artists, is of course a highlight. The renovation and opening of McLuhan House, now home to a micro-museum honouring the legacy of Marshall McLuhan and the McLuhan Artist-in-Residence Program, is also a source of great pride. The two projects currently in development: Artists Quarters and ArtsCommon continue to move forward, gaining more and more support, and I leave with the belief that they will both be completed in the not too distant future.” Linda looks forward to retiring and having time for family and friends.
In Huffman’s place, David Tam and the Arts Habitat Board welcome current Director of Project Development, Julian Mayne, into the position of Executive Director as of December 1, 2016. “Julian has been with us since 2013, working closely with Linda on all ArtsHab projects. He is a natural fit to step into this capacity,” said Tam.
Mayne’s extensive arts management career in Edmonton spans more than 30 years where he has had the pleasure of working in music, theatre, opera and dance. Part of the team that built and managed the Winspear Centre, he was also project manager for the design, construction and installation of the 3.5M Davis Concert Organ. A teacher of project management at MacEwan University’s Arts and Cultural Management Program, Mayne was also Executive Director of Fringe Theatre Adventures and Fringe Festival from 2006 -2012.
Mayne takes on this important role with gratitude. “It has been such a pleasure to work beside and learn from Linda. I will miss her wisdom and clear thinking as an outstanding administrator, artist and colleague. Linda has a vast understanding of the challenges and opportunities, gained only through decades of a dedicated career in the arts sector. I am grateful for the opportunity to steward Arts Habitat into its next chapter of development, and continue in Linda’s footsteps with the vital work of developing sustainable creative spaces for Edmonton artists; something that is dear to my heart as well,” he said.
Media contact: Kate Hamblin, Bottom Line Productions kate@bottomlinepro.com | 780.257.6931