Scottsdale Arts Names Wuestemann President and CEO
Scottsdale Arts has named Gerd Wuestemann its new president and CEO. Wuestemann has nearly four decades of experience in the arts, and is coming from a position as executive director of the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Lafayette.
“Gerd was the unanimous choice of our board,” said Scottsdale Arts board of trustees chair Kathy Wills. “His extensive experience working with a city to develop its vision for the arts, managing a multi-disciplinary arts organization, fundraising experience and enthusiasm for the Scottsdale Arts’ mission make him the ideal choice to lead and take this organization to the next level. We look forward to working with him.”
Wuestemann will succeed Scottsdale Arts’ interim president and CEO Mike Miller effective March 19. Miller will continue to serve on the Scottsdale Arts Board.
In the position, Wuestemann will oversee 71 full-time and 104 part-time staffers at Scottsdale Arts.
“We are pleased to welcome Gerd Wuestemann as the new leader of Scottsdale Arts after conducting an extensive national search that produced many quality candidates” said board of trustees vice chair Gerri Smith, who led the CEO search committee.
Over the past nine years, Wuestemann has lead the transformation of a small arts council into the Acadiana Center for the Arts, which won the Governor’s Culture Award in 2016 and 2017. During his tenure, the organization quadrupled in size, annexed another arts organization and created a growing endowment.
Wuestemann was part of the class of 2015 at the National Arts Strategies Executive Leadership Group, is a member of the board of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, has chaired Louisiana Citizens for Arts Advocacy since 2009 and is founder of the INNOV8 Festival of Creativity & Entrepreneurship.
He also holds a doctorate of musical arts from the University of Arizona.
“I am excited for the opportunity to expand existing programs, create new initiatives and partnerships and further the mission of Scottsdale Arts and the arts and cultural life in the City of Scottsdale” Wuestemann said. “Great culture reflects our sense of community and in turn allows a community to come together, grow together and experience something new. I hope to serve my new community through engagement, partnerships, focus on artistic quality and innovative and diverse programming.”
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