KANSAS CITY, MO.- Becky Blades, chair of the Board of Directors for ArtsKC, announced the resignation of Harlan Brownlee as ArtsKC president and CEO. Brownlee, who has been with ArtsKC since February 2009, will depart July 31st. Blades said the Board of Directors is in the process of naming a Search Committee to begin a national search for Brownlee’s successor to ensure a smooth transition. An interim leader will be named in the next few days.

Harlan Brownlee stated, “I’m very pleased and proud of the work of ArtsKC from the creation and early adoption of the OneArtsKC Regional Cultural Plan, our move back to the Crossroads Arts District, and the visioning and rebranding we accomplished for the organization. I thank the Board and staff for their tireless work to make these a reality. Now, I am ready for the next chapter in my life. I have always maintained a deep passion for arts education, and I would like to explore how I may be of service for that vital work in our community and the place I call home.”

On behalf of ArtsKC Board, chair Becky Blades stated, “We recognize and thank Harlan for his countless contributions to ArtsKC, including leading the One ArtsKC Regional Cultural Plan and the successful oversight of ArtsKC Fund, both of which will nurture the arts in our community for generations. These initiatives and more have helped position the organization with strong financial stability and great growth potential moving forward. We are grateful for his service, passion and dedication during his tenure.”

Brownlee has worked for thirty years in the arts field as a performing artist, arts educator, and arts administrator. From 2005 to 2009, he served as the Executive Director for Kansas City Young Audiences, a non-profit dedicated to engaging all youth in the arts, promoting creativity, and inspiring success in education. Brownlee is a presenter for the Kennedy Center’s Changing Education through the Arts (CETA) and is on the national touring roster for the Partners in Education program. He has conducted master classes, workshops and residencies extensively in the Midwest and throughout the United States. In addition, he has been an adjunct professor for Rockhurst University’s School of Education and the University of Missouri – Kansas City’s School of Education. Since 1996, he has served as a consultant for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and as a member of the Fine Arts Task Force. Brownlee received his B.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and his M.A. in Educational Research and Psychology from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.