Longtime Executive Director of the Durham Arts Council,Sherry DeVries, announces retirement
Sherry L. DeVries, Executive Director of the Durham Arts Council (DAC), has announced her retirement this summer. The Arts Council’s Board of Trustees has begun the process for hiring a new Executive Director. DeVries has led the Arts Council for 23 years and has a total of 43 years in arts and cultural leadership positions.
“The Board of Trustees is profoundly grateful for the transformative leadership Sherry has provided to the Arts Council since 2002, and for the growth and service achievements that she and the staff have accomplished,” said Tabitha Concepcion, Board President. “Sherry has positioned the organization for success for years to come, leaving a lasting legacy.”
“The Board’s leadership has worked closely with Sherry to engage in a thoughtful transition planning process over the past few months,” according to Mike Woodard, Board Secretary and Search Committee Chair. “We have contracted Arts Consulting Group, a top national search firm that specializes in arts and cultural sector executive placement to facilitate and guide our search. Once the Board selects our new Executive Director, we will have an overlap period with Sherry so that we effectively and smoothly continue to advance the mission of the Arts Council.”
Woodard added, “We have big shoes to fill with Sherry’s departure, but we are confident and excited about our next leader and the Arts Council’s future. We also look forward to celebrating Sherry’s accomplishments and service to the community in the coming months.”
“I am so fortunate and honored to have led the Durham Arts Council since 2002, and very grateful for the support of many generous donors and community partners that have helped us to advance and support the arts in Durham,” said DeVries. “Because of our supporters, partners, and an incredibly talented staff and board, we have been able to significantly expand our arts programming for the public and our investment in artists and arts and cultural organizations. I am especially proud of our expansion of people served annually 171% from 187,398 to 508,074, and our total annual support for the arts and cultural sector through grants and arts employment reached an all-time high of $2.26 million last year. Annual contributed funds to DAC have grown from $864,018 to $2.43 million.” DeVries added, “While I will greatly miss the daily thrill of seeing children and adults engage with the arts at DAC, I am thankful for this upcoming new time of life while I help my husband continue to navigate a battle with cancer, and we hope to embark on a few adventures as well. It has been a joy to serve as Executive Director of the Durham Arts Council and to see how the arts are a powerful force for good in our community. I am so proud of all we have accomplished together over the years to uplift, celebrate and strengthen the arts in Durham!”
You can send a note to Sherry at sldevries@durhamarts.org as she will remain in her position until this summer.
Planning and Development
- Development of Durham’s first Cultural Master Plan (2004)
- Stewarded DAC through major renovations to the DAC Building planned with and supported by the City of Durham (2008, 2011).
Fundraising and Financial Sustainability
- Upgraded and strengthened DAC’s financial, management, and technology systems to improve customer service, drive program growth, and increase financial sustainability.
- Planned, raised and implemented major Covid-relief funding programs for the arts and cultural sector including The Arts Recovery Fund, and the City ARPA-funded $1 million program “Culture and Arts: Invest to Restart,” along with co-producing Big Night In for the Arts in partnership with WRAL and the arts councils of Wake, Orange and Chatham Counties over 4 years to raise nearly $1 million for the arts.
Creative Economy
- Developed and led the Creative Economy Summit programs sponsored by MetLife Foundation and a Creative Entrepreneur Expo (2007/08, 2013);
- Led four Arts & Economic Prosperity studies gauging economic impact of the arts.
- Led development and early project implementation of the SmART Vision Plan (2015) focused on arts-driven economic development downtown with support from the North Carolina Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, City of Durham, Durham County and community partners.
- Project planned and raised the federal, state and local funding for the Corcoran Garage Wrap by artist Olalekan Jeyifous, which subsequently was recognized nationally in the top 50 public art projects of 2018 by Americans for the Arts.
Arts Excellence
- Led the growth and success of DAC’s CenterFest Arts Festival, which has now achieved #22 in national rankings and #1 NC fine arts festival.
- Strengthened DAC’s commitment to artistic excellence, earning recognition as Durham Magazine’s Best of Durham Gallery winner every year since 2011.
Recognition
DeVries received the Illinois “Governor’s Award for the Arts” in 1999. In 2013, Ms. DeVries was recognized by the City of Durham annual Women’s Leadership Forum Awards, and in 2014 was selected for the Women of Achievement Award by Durham Magazine. In her arts career, she has raised over $33 million dollars to support arts and culture from the public and private sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, and a Master’s degree in Arts & Entertainment Management from Columbia College, Chicago, and the Professional Fundraising Certificate from Boston University. She is an international Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE). DeVries currently serves on the Arts North Carolina Board of Directors.
The selected executive search firm is Arts Consulting Group. https://artsconsulting.com/
ACG is the leading provider of hands-on interim management, executive search, revenue enhancement, strategic planning & community engagement, and facilities & program planning and research services for the arts and culture industry. ACG consultants are located in communities across the United States and Canada to best serve the needs of our clients. ACG team members have decades of combined senior leadership experience in every artistic and cultural discipline and area of functional management expertise. As specialists in the management of arts and cultural institutions who are passionately committed to the creative industries, we are recognized internationally for our expertise, personalized approach, and extraordinary results.