Summit Artspace, the Greater Akron area community arts center, has chosen Kamelia D. Fisher as its new executive director.
A Cuyahoga Falls resident, Fisher has been the executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties since 2012. She started in the BBBS organization in 2009 as president and CEO of the East Central Ohio chapter, located in New Philadelphia.
“Summit Artspace Board of Directors is happy to announce that Ms. Fisher will take over direction of the organization on Jan 1. She has the proven track record of strong administrative ability and visionary leadership that we have been seeking,” said Toby Ann Weber, Summit Artspace chairperson.
Summit Artspace is a community arts center that provides studio, exhibit and programming spaces in Summit County for local artists and arts organizations; and is a center for art education open to all residents. It is a joint project of Summit County and the Akron Area Arts Alliance, a nonprofit organization promoting arts and cultural activities.
“Summit Artspace has important roles in the community. It acts as advocate, cheerleader, resource and supporter for emerging and established artists,” said Fisher. “It is here to enrich and enhance the lives of residents and visitors of all ages and backgrounds by providing creative art experiences and art education. What a great opportunity to make everyone’s world a little brighter and add a little more color in an environment that encourages and embraces diversity, self-expression and individuality.”
Fisher will join the arts center after its recent addition of Nine Muses Art Gallery and the Art Center on Tusc (ACoT), both in Barberton, to its operations. Summit Artspace is located in the historic Akron Beacon Journal building at 140 E. Market St., Akron.
She will oversee the management of eight art galleries, artist studio and creative business office rentals, performance space, workshop areas and meeting rooms.
Taking a business approach to nonprofit management is one of Fisher’s strengths and a challenge where she excels.
“I have always had a very creative nature and a great appreciation of the arts. I also have a dominant business side that helps me to lead a nonprofit organization using a sound business model. My experience is diverse, both in nonprofit and for profit. I believe all these experiences and traits have positioned me to lead Summit Artspace to the next level and provide the community with an outstanding art resource for local artists and a premier community arts center,” Fisher explained.
While at BBBS of Summit, Medina and Stark Counties, she was successful in increasing agency income by more than 300 percent from diversified sources, which provided financial stability, resulted in significantly growing the number of children served and allowed for the development of new and innovative services to youth in the program. The agency raised its visibility in the community and gained new supporters.
Her background includes strategic planning, grant writing, fund development, applying entrepreneurial approaches to nonprofit management and marketing. Fisher’s previous work experience was as director of hospitality and sales at the Roscoe Village Foundation in Coshocton; and as the director of operations for Riverfront Antique Malls, Inc., a multi-state retail business based in New Philadelphia.
Fisher is all about building up the infrastructure of Summit Artspace to systematically launch the strategic plan and position SA for its role in the community. “It is certainly an exciting time to join Summit Artspace and I am eager to begin my new role and be part of its vision and help it evolve to the next level as a premier community resource,” Fisher said.
Contact Summit Artspace at (330) 376-8480 or online at www.summitartspace.org.
