November 8, 2010 12:22 PM

Tamara Real
Tamara Real, Arts Alliance
The Arts Alliance, an umbrella group supporting Washtenaw County arts and culture, announced today that Tamara Real is stepping down as president of the group for family reasons.
Real has been with the group for eight years. The resignation takes effect Dec. 31, and the Arts Alliance board expects to name an interim president while it conducts a search for a permanent candidate.
Under Real's leadership, the Arts Alliance raised its profile substantially. The organization has worked to establish itself as a true support group for the arts throughout the county. In recent years it has organized major initiatives such as a countywide web portal for the arts; development of cultural master plans for the county and its individual communities; and sponsorship of an annual "Convergence" conference to discuss arts and culture issues.
The group also distributes local "minigrants" from the state Council for Arts and and Cultural Affairs, and this year it took over organization of the county's Art Walk.
More after the jump…