VCA Appoints Allison Reid as its new Executive Director

Vashon WA — The Vashon Center for the Arts’ Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Allison Reid as its new Executive Director.

Since August, Reid served as the Interim Executive Director where she demonstrated her ability to lead and grow VCA during a transitional period. In less than six months, Reid has increased programming at the Center by more than 30%, delivered an annual auction that exceeded all goals and secured a continued partnership with the Seattle Dance Collective in 2020. She has worked collaboratively with staff, volunteers and donors to deliver on the VCA mission. Other VCA accomplishments under her leadership include the creation of a new music committee with island musicians; establishment of a grant writing program and introduction of the TALKS ON THE ROCK series.

“I have worked closely with Allison since she joined VCA,” VCA Board President John de Groen said. “From the beginning I was impressed with her capabilities and since then have become convinced that she is perfectly suited to handle the complexities of the ED position. I think Allison is the right person at the right time to lead VCA into this new decade of endless possibilities for the organization.”

A committee comprised of VCA board members, community members and staff conducted a national search through a thoughtful and deliberative process to identify the right candidate to lead VCA. Eleven candidates out of an 80-person pool were interviewed. There were four finalists of which two participated in additional interviews and meetings with community members, former trustees, artists, and VCA’s board and staff. Following the committee’s recommendation, the board approved the Executive Director selection at its regularly scheduled board meeting on Monday, Jan. 20.

“The committee was very pleased with how the ED search went,” search committee member Bruce Morser said. “We took our time to carefully gather and then consider a surprisingly large group of applicants. We learned a great deal from long phone and personal interviews with 11 very qualified candidates. Ultimately, we learned that our Interim ED, Allison Reid, had the best array of experience and talents required to help a multi-faceted organization like VCA thrive in the coming years.”

Reid has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 25 years after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arts Administration and Theatre Management from The Evergreen State College. She is well-known among the Vashon community where she has used her considerable talents in development, event management, and marketing and communications to help advance a number of island organizations, including the Harbor School, where Reid was the Director of Advancement.

While raising her family on Vashon, Reid has cultivated strong relationships and deep friendships. She believes in “kindness and generosity” and “lives each day with that in mind.” She also believes that the “arts can change lives and unite us by building family and community.”

“Everything I have worked for, aspired to be, and accomplished has led me to here.” Reid said. “I look forward to serving this vibrant island of artists, students, staff and patrons in support of cultural arts on Vashon and beyond.”

 

About Vashon Center for the Arts

Vashon Center for the Arts is a collaborative and community-based organization that initiates quality arts experiences for all ages, creates opportunities for artists to perform and exhibit their work, and provides a center for the arts on Vashon Island.