The Brooklyn Academy of Music is looking for a new president.
Katy Clark, the violinist-turned-arts-executive who has led the organization since 2015, will leave in January to accept another opportunity, the BAM board announced Monday.
“I have accepted a new position where I can have a focused impact on work that is especially meaningful to me, notably in arts education and civic engagement,” Ms. Clark said in a release, adding that her new role would be announced soon.
During her five years as president, Ms. Clark led an expansion of the institution’s campus. She oversaw the opening of the organization’s first dedicated visual art gallery last fall and the beginning of construction of the BAM Karen, a three-cinema venue that will also house films from the BAM archives. She also implemented the organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion plan.
Ms. Clark, who was born and raised in Wales, joined the organization after serving as the president and executive director of New York’s Orchestra of St. Luke’s. She began her career playing violin in the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London from 1994 to 1999 before turning to arts management.
“All of us at BAM sincerely thank Katy for her tremendous contributions over the last five years and wish her the best in her next pursuit,” Nora Ann Wallace, an interim co-chair of the organization’s board, said in a release.
The board will consider both internal and external candidates to replace Ms. Clark during her final three months at the helm, according to the release. The organization plans to reopen its stages and screens at some point in 2021.
In the meantime, BAM has offered digital programming, including a virtual play in October that honored nurses’ roles in the pandemic and featured Rosario Dawson, Billy Porter and Rosie O’Donnell. The organization also held its annual gala online in May, which featured Annie Clark, better known as St. Vincent, performing her song “New York.”
“BAM has remained resolute through floods, fires and pandemics, and we believe that we will come out of this a stronger organization,” Bill Campbell, an interim co-chair of the BAM board, said.
But it will no longer be Ms. Clark leading the charge.
“I have truly loved the many dimensions of my work at BAM these past five years, and I wish the organization the best as it charts a path forward,” Ms. Clark said.
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