ArtsKC did a national search for a new president and chief operating officer but found that it really wasn’t necessary to leave its own offices.
Council officials decided they already had the best candidate in Dana Knapp, who was interim CEO and president. On May 22, they named her the new president and CEO, effective immediately.
ArtsKC is a nonprofit regional arts council that promotes the arts across a five-county metro region.
Knapp has been active in the Kansas City arts community for more than two decades. She worked as the director of programs for the Mid-America Arts Alliance for nearly four years. Prior to that, Knapp was the director of planning at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for almost 20 years. During that time, she led the Bloch Building construction and renovation of the Nelson-Atkins building.
Brad Douglas, chairman of the ArtsKC board of directors, noted the breadth of Knapp’s experience.
“Dana brings tremendous experience in the Kansas City arts and civic communities, strategic leadership skills and a passion for the Kansas City area and its arts culture,” he said. “She has served our nonprofit community in several programmatic, fundraising and leadership levels throughout her career, giving her a breadth of perspective and experience, not to mention deep ties in our community.”
Knapp said it was a privilege to work with the ArtsKC staff and board.
“I am excited to continue the strategic planning, community outreach and oversight of ArtsKC programs and services as ArtsKC continues its critical role in promoting, supporting and advocating for the arts throughout the Kansas City region,” she said.
Knapp earned a bachelor’s degree in design and the history of art from the University of Kansas. She has a master’s degree in nonprofit administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Knapp is a founding board member of the Center for Architecture and Design, a board member for the Mattie Rhodes Center, a volunteer of PREPKC and a member of the ArtsKC Advisory Council for the past two years.
