MILWAUKEE.- The Milwaukee Art Museum announced today the appointment of Karen Spahn as Senior Director of Development.  Spahn has served as Program/Development Officer at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation since 1993 and has been involved with arts and culture programming and fundraising in Milwaukee since 1989.
In her position at the Museum, Spahn will work with Director David Gordon and a team of development professionals to design and implement fundraising initiatives to support Museum operations, collections growth, programs and capital and endowment needs.  She will start at the Museum in early May.
"Karen has been an outstanding leader in the community," said Gordon.  "Her knowledge of the city and county’s nonprofit, arts and philanthropic groups will energize the Museum’s development program."
In addition to her position at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Spahn has served as staff consultant to the Milwaukee County Public Arts Committee, including oversight of initial public art projects and the Percent for Art Program initiated in 2000.  She has also been staff consultant to the City of Milwaukee Arts Board. In her business, Spahn Consulting, she has advised corporations and nonprofit organizations, providing training, development, conducting workshops, studies and special events and assisting in public art programs and activities.
Spahn’s board memberships and affiliations currently include the Midwest Airlines Center Arts & Advisory Committee, Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts, Wisconsin Assembly for Local Arts and the Greater Milwaukee Convention & Visitors Bureau.