South Arts Announces New Executive Director
South Arts has announced the appointment of Suzette (Susie) Surkamer as executive director effective December 6, 2012. Since January, 2012, Surkamer has been the membership consultant for South Arts’ ArtsReady project. Surkamer earned a M.Ed. in dance education from George Washington University and a B.A. in dance from the University of Maryland.
Surkamer has spent 35 years dedicating her career to the development of a thriving arts environment in South Carolina. Her work with the South Carolina Arts Commission began in 1974 when she joined the Commission as a dancer-in-residence. In 1994 she became executive director of the Commission. Guided by her vision, the agency earned a national reputation as a leader in the arts for its work in arts education reform, rural arts development, design arts and other initiatives.