Susan Froelich

The Arts Alliance, Washtenaw County's umbrella arts-support group, has named Susan Froelich as its interim president.

Froelich is a past director of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair and also former Exhibit Gallery director at the Ann Arbor Art Center.

The Arts Alliance is seeking a new leader following the resignation of Tamara Real earlier this fall. The board plans to search for a permanent president in the new year.

The full text of the announcement:

The Arts Alliance is very pleased to announce that Susan Froelich has agreed to be the Interim President for the Arts Alliance, stepping in for outgoing President Tamara Real during the search for a permanent replacement.

Ms. Froelich comes to the Arts Alliance with twenty years of experience in non-profit arts administration, including nearly eleven years as Director of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair and six years as the Exhibit Gallery Director at the Ann Arbor Art Center. For the past thirteen years Ms. Froelich has worked at the University of Michigan, first in Government Relations and then in major gift development work for the last ten years.

Susan Froelich stated, "I'm delighted to return to the arts as Interim President for the Arts Alliance in part because I'm so impressed with their production of a Cultural Master Plan. The arts have been a passion of mine for many years and I look forward to stepping back into a leadership role for the arts in Washtenaw County."

Arts Alliance Incoming Board Chair Lynne Friman adds, "We thank Tamara Real for her vision and years of service to the Arts Alliance. She has driven the organization in the creation of the Cultural Master Plan, which we will continue to use as our guiding beacon. A3Arts.org will also be a legacy that is helps bring the public to the Washtenaw County Cultural Community."

Additionally she said, "I am excited that Susan Froelich has accepted our offer to be Interim President of the Arts Alliance. She will provide a steady hand due to her development experience, community ties and past relationships with so many regional arts organizations, including the Ann Arbor Art Center, Street Art Fair, UMMA and the Washtenaw Council for the Arts. I look forward to working with her to implement the strategic plans that the Board spent the last year developing. Not only will she do the things that need to be done, but I believe she'll provide creative solutions as we move forward."

The search for a permanent President will begin after the first of the year.

The alliance also announced next year's board:

Officers Chair: Lynne Friman, Envisions Design, Ltd. Vice-Chair: Deb Polich, ArtTrain Secretary: David Esau, Cornerstone Design Treasurer: Roxana Overdier, Weidmayer, Schneider, and Raham Immediate Past Chair, Melissa Milton-Pung Board Members Mary Kerr, Ann Arbor Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Greta Brunschwyler, Leslie Science & Nature Center David Harrison, Ann Arbor Film Festival Leslie Sobel, Milan Arts Center and independent artist