Pop Smart - Atlanta Contemporary Art Center Executive Director Resigns

Kay Kallos has stepped down as the Contemporary’s executive director after 16 months in the position to relocate to Dallas, Texas. From Board President Baxter Jones’ press release:

Executive Director Kay Kallos, who has led the organization since March 2007, has resigned, effective July 7, 2008, for personal reasons ... To continue her good work, the Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Curator Stuart Horodner and Gallery Manager Stacie Lindner will take on expanded roles. As Artistic Director and Managing Director, respectively, Stuart and Stacie will assume expanded roles to include fundraising, board relations, facilities and financial management, and program oversight. Insuring continuity of mission during this transitional period, staff members Michelle Frost, Alana Wolf, and Stan Woodard will continue in their respective roles as Bookkeeper, Events Coordinator, and Communications Director.

After 35 years, the Contemporary has become one of Atlanta’s most important resources for the visual arts. The arts center took home two CL Best of Atlanta awards under Kallos’ direction in 2007 for Best Out-of-Town Guests (Daniel Bozhov and Greta Pratt; see review here) and Best Gallery for Kids (although welcoming to families, see Felicia Feaster’s review on its gritty fall 2007 exhibitions featuring Harrell Fletcher, Nubar Alexanian and the group show Finding Form).

(Photo courtesy Atlanta Contemporary Art Center)