Craig Watson Appointed Director of the California Arts Council
Malissa Feruzzi Shriver, Chair, California Arts Council, today announced the appointment of Craig Watson as the new Director for the state agency. Watson's appointment represents the first time in the 36-year history of the state agency that the Director has been hired directly by the Council rather than by appointment of the Governor. Watson is currently the Executive Director of the Arts Council for Long Beach, and will start with the California Arts Council on August 15, 2011.
Watson has an extensive background in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Prior to his current position with the Arts Council for Long Beach and other recent work in the arts, he held senior executive positions in the telecommunications field in Rhode Island, New York and California. His earlier career in the arts included positions with the Sonoma County Arts Council and Rural Arts Services in Northern California, as well as a fellowship at the National Endowment for the Arts, participation in the Coro Foundation's Arts Management program, and a co-directing position at Santa Barbara Arts Services.