MIAMI BEACH, FLA.- Esther Park, a South Florida arts leader known for her risk-taking cultural programming, will join ArtCenter/South Florida as the organization’s new vice president for programming.

At ArtCenter, Park will lead the visual arts organization’s initiatives, including its new conversation series Talks, which is in partnership with Locust Projects, ArtFilms, which features movies by and about artists, as well as ArtCenter’s signature artist residency program and other efforts to be announced in the coming year.

“As ArtCenter continues to roll out ambitious programming, we sought a visionary who both knows Miami well and can imagine where it should go next,” said Dennis Scholl, ArtCenter’s recently appointed president and CEO. “We’re delighted Esther will join us in fulfilling our mission to be a full-service organization for artists that helps advance the knowledge of contemporary art in our community.”

Since arriving in Miami in 2003, Park has specialized in developing unique programming aimed at drawing new and diverse audiences. A long-time music journalist, she has also served as director of programming for the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and for MOCA, where, for example, she brought in hip hop legends De La Soul for a b-boy competition in honor of legendary contemporary choreographer Merce Cunningham.

Most recently, she has served as director of alumni and public programs at the National YoungArts Foundation. While there, she helped YoungArts create programming for its Biscayne Boulevard campus, turning it into a community gathering space for “Outside the Box,” an innovative outdoor performance series, and the YoungArts Salon Series, which featured intimate discussions among art world luminaries.

Park said that ArtCenter’s new direction, under Scholl’s and the board’s leadership, drew her to the position. The sale of one of ArtCenter’s Lincoln Road properties has provided funds for the organization to expand its programming, enabling it to have a much broader impact on the visual arts in Miami.

“I am beyond honored and thrilled to lead ArtCenter/South Florida to produce innovative and diverse programming with radical artists who will help push the culture forward,” said Park. “ArtCenter has done so much for Miami and beyond, and I’m extremely blessed to help continue the legacy of this vital institution.”

Park has a bachelor’s degree in Radical Political Economy in Mass Media Culture from Mount Holyoke College.