The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts, located in Highlands, North Carolina, is welcoming Niki Kinkade as its new Executive Director starting mid-July.

Kinkade comes to The Bascom with more than 15 years of experience in  the arts nonprofit sector. Since 2017, Kinkade has served as Executive Director of the Art Center of the Bluegrass in Danville, where she led the rebranding, growth, and reimagining of the organization, doubling its physical space,  programming, and staff. Kinkade led a $5 million capital campaign to support the expansion of the  center, and established the GLASS National Art Museum featuring the collection of Stephen Rolfe  Powell.

Board Chair Ann Wrobleski said, “After an extensive national search, I’m excited to announce that Niki Kinkade will join The Bascom as our new Executive Director. The search committee was  impressed by Niki’s experience, energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to the arts.”

When asked about her new role, Kinkade said, “I’m delighted to join the Bascom team to continue  and expand the great work being done with the visual arts in the Plateau community. The Bascom is  a treasure for residents and visitors — a place to find inspiration through seeing, thinking, and  doing. I am honored to be a part of it.”

Kinkade replaces Dr. Karin Peterson, who announced her retirement from The Bascom last year.

Board Chair Wrobleski states, “I know you’ll join me in welcoming Niki to our community and in  supporting her – and our staff– in a successful next chapter for The Bascom.”

About The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts

The Bascom creates visual art experiences that inspire and empower individuals and communities  through seeing, thinking, and doing. For more than 30 years, we’ve served as a vital cultural  resource for Western North Carolina, and we continue to build on that legacy through our work and  advocacy for the arts.