AVA Gallery and Art Center Appoints Heidi Reynolds as Executive Director
Lebanon, NH (October 14, 2019) The Board of Directors of AVA Gallery and Art Center today announced the appointment of Heidi Reynolds as AVA’s new Executive Director. AVA’s Board Chair, Andrew Garthwaite stated: “The Search Committee considered many qualified applicants from across the country. Heidi’s natural leadership qualities, her dedication to the role of the arts in the Upper Valley community and her commitment to the future of AVA made her the clear choice for Executive Director.”
Reynolds recently joined the staff at AVA as Interim Exhibition Manager in June and was retained permanently after successfully integrating into the culture at AVA. She will continue her duties as Exhibition Manager until her successor is named, assuming the Executive Director mantle from Bente Torjusen, AVA’s previous Executive Director who returned to AVA on an interim basis during the directorship search.
“I follow in the footsteps of a formidable leader and am grateful to have Bente as a mentor and guide as AVA embarks on this new chapter,” says Reynolds. “AVA is experiencing a groundswell of support since Bente spearheaded the Spring Into Summer Campaign and I intend to continue honoring AVA’s past and improving upon the traditions that make this institution the core source of support and community for visual artists and patrons in the Upper Valley and beyond.”
A life-long photographer who studied at Columbia College in Chicago, Reynolds served on the board of Fotofest in Houston, Texas, while continuing her photographic studies at Maine Media and Santa Fe Workshops. Reynolds’ family later moved from San Francisco to settle in Hanover, New Hampshire in 2004 where she continued her commitment to service as a volunteer and board member at several non-profit organizations. Most recently, Reynolds worked in development at Northern Stage, managing the corporate sponsorship and exhibiting artist programs, and at the Montshire Museum of Science, coordinating development events and managing volunteers.
Reynolds feels a strong responsibility toward supporting non-profit organizations that sustain our rich community life. “Having worked or volunteered at many Upper Valley organizations, I understand how interwoven these teams are among the lives of the people they serve. I am honored to have relationships with those who are dedicated to the arts, social services, education, and research, whether as employees, clients, members, or donors. I hope to nurture these relationships and continue to foster collaboration among as many fellow non-profits, supporting businesses, and benefactors as possible. Working together only makes us stronger.”
