Arts Council names interim director

The Bloomington Area Arts Council has named two interim directors to replace outgoing Executive Director Sally Gaskill.\nOn Sept. 2, Nancy Krueger, the organization's current assistant director, was appointed interim director of the BAAC, which serves as a regional arts council for five counties. Miah Michaelsen was chosen as interim director of the John Waldron Arts Center, also operated by the BAAC, where she presently functions as gallery director. \n"I think it's something we can slide right into," said Krueger, who also plays an important role in the council's relationship with the Indiana Arts Commission. "It's a shared position and we're familiar with the way things work so it's not going to be a big change."\nThe decision of the BAAC board of trustees to appoint Krueger and Michaelsen comes less than a month after Gaskill's announcement of resignation Aug. 18. Gaskill will step down after five productive years as director capped by the completion of two major BAAC initiatives -- the launching of www.BloomingtonArts.info Sept. 6 and drafting of the 2005 Cultural Development Plan which is set for completion Sept. 30. \n"There are going to be no new major projects in the next three months as our hands are already quite full," said Krueger who played an integral role in developing the new Web site that serves as both an events calendar and a ticketing service. "We're just going to keep doing what we've been doing, offering classes and a full performance schedule."\nThe duo agreed to share leadership until December when the board will reconvene to monitor progress and decide whether to continue with the cooperative arrangement or initiate a full search for a new executive. Tom Zoss, president of the BAAC Board of Trustees, feels confident about the council's choice in the meantime.\n"We have a really competent team of arts managers on the staff right now, and we view these people as diamonds in our own back yard," said Zoss in a press release regarding the board's decision. "This is ideal because our new management team can jointly share leadership of our various activities without any learning curve at all."\nThe BAAC, in addition to offering educational programs and a variety of performances, oversees operations of the John Waldron Arts Center and is the managing partner in the corporation that owns the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. In light of the board's decision to temporarily fill the executive vacancy with employees already fulfilling designated roles, two people will essentially be tackling a workload designed for three.\n"We're going to make a smooth transition," said Krueger, laughing at the uncertain implications of the new setup.\nThe BAAC will face even more change in the near future when Zoss' term as board president ends. More immediately, the agreed upon changes in the management plan will take effect Sept. 30 when Gaskill officially relinquishes her post as executive director. Miah Michaelsen could not be reached by press time for comment.