News
Mayor Gibson - Acosta Named Director of Department of Cultural Arts & Tourism
August 7, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE
PLEASE CONTACT CINDY HERMAN (702) 267-2051
Henderson, Nev. – Henderson City Manager Phil Speight announced the selection of Marie Acosta as the City of Hendersons first director of the Department of Cultural Arts and Tourism. Acosta will be charged with the management of the new department comprised of 31 personnel and overseeing a budget of $1.53 million. She officially starts August 7 and will earn $130,000 a year.
The development of the Department of Cultural Arts and Tourism, through an innovative realignment of city resources, was announced by Mayor James B. Gibson at the 2006 State of the City Address. As stated in the address, "the new Cultural Arts and Tourism Department would be created from existing resources and will help (the City of Henderson) take advantage of the many venues in the city to provide more cultural opportunities."
The department was developed by merging existing city services that provide cultural arts, special events and tourism programs and services. The Henderson Pavilion, Henderson Events Center (formerly Henderson Convention Center), and the Henderson Events Plaza scheduled to open September 2006 will be managed by Acosta and department staff.
"Were excited to have Marie as the newest member of our team," said Mayor Gibson. "We have some wonderful venues in Henderson that will really benefit from her management expertise. Her rich, diverse cultural experience will help bring a whole new level to the cultural and tourism opportunities we enjoy in Henderson."
A recognized curator, producer and advisor on arts administration and programming, Acosta comes to Henderson as a 19-year cultural arts veteran, working previously as the executive director of the Latino Arts Network of California. Other positions she has held include Executive Director of The Mexican Museum in San Francisco, California, and Special Assistant to the Director at the California Arts Council in Sacramento, California.
As Executive Director at The Mexican Museum from 1989 to 1996, Acosta secured over $7.5 million toward a capital campaign for the construction of a new facility in the Yerba Buena Arts District to feature a collection of more than 12,000 pieces of Mexican and Latino art.
"Maries artistic background and vast experience as an arts administrator are compelling attributes that will contribute to the continual development of the cultural experience in Henderson," stated Henderson City Manager Phil Speight. "Coupled with her business expertise in facility operations, financial management and program development, Marie will provide the leadership needed to grow the department."
Since its inception in 2001, Acosta served as a board member on the California Cultural and Historical Endowment Agency. Within six months of appointment, the agency was credited with implementing a competitive process for the distribution of $46 million in grant funding for the preservation of California art and culture.
"Her experienced strategic planning background as well as her proven leadership skills will impact the communitys cultural landscape as Henderson continues its evolvement into a vibrant arts community," stated Assistant City Manager Mary Kay Peck.
A graduate of San Francisco State University, Acosta holds a bachelors degree in Political Science. She has been honored by the San Francisco Womens Foundation and was named Woman of the Year by California State Assemblyman Speaker Willie Brown.
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