NEW DIRECTORS at CAPITOL HILL ARTS WORKSHOP

CAPITOL HILL ARTS WORKSHOP (CHAW) ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & PROGRAMS, AND DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
New Management Team to Continue CHAW’s Success

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW), President Eric Tobias has announced the selection of Jill P. Strachan, PhD as CHAW’s new Executive Director. In addition, Tobias announced that Jenny Chowning will be Director of Education & Programs and Jody Barasch will be the Director of Operations. All three appointments are effective immediately. They join Michelle Cohen who became CHAW’s Director of Development in May 2007.

Tobias stated, “The Board of Directors conducted an extensive search to find a new Executive Director. We selected Jill Strachan to fill the position because we know that she will bring the right mix of management, fundraising, and mentoring experience to CHAW and because she has an unrivaled passion for the arts and CHAW’s vision of building community through the arts.” Strachan has been involved with CHAW in many capacities (including Board member, former interim Executive Director, teacher, student, and grant writer) since 1999. In addition, she brings a broad range of experience with non-profits and the arts from her more than 20 years as a free-lance consultant in the arts.

In selecting Jenny Chowning as Director of Education and Programs, CHAW will benefit from Chowning’s broad knowledge of education and her research and policy experience with Americans for the Arts. Chowning will have responsibility for shaping the long-range vision of education and programs at CHAW while building on the many successfully, current multi-disciplinary offerings.

As Director of Operations, Jody Barasch will have responsibility for managing CHAW and its facility on a day-to-day basis. Barasch, already familiar with CHAW through her participation in the ceramics program, has broad experience in managing schedules, vendors, and volunteers after eleven years as the House Management Coordinator for Arena Stage.

Tobias commented, “We are confident that the arrival of the new management team will continue CHAW‘s tradition of excellence and will provide valuable leadership to the organization for fulfilling its mission of building community through the arts.”

CHAW will formally welcome Strachan, Chowning, and Barasch at a reception at CHAW in conjunction with the opening of the Photography Exhibit on Saturday, September 8, 2007, 5-7 PM. All are welcome to attend.

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) is a non-profit multi-disciplinary arts education facility, located on the corner of 7th and G Streets, SE (just two blocks south of Eastern Market). For more information about classes, performances, exhibitions, and programs, visit http://www.chaw.org/ . CHAW offers a tuition assistance program. CHAW’s mission is building community through the arts. CHAW was recognized as a featured charity by the 2006-2007 Catalogue for Philanthropy.