Susan Froelich, president of the Arts Alliance, is stepping down at the end of the month, the group announced today.

Froelich has held the job for about a year, taking over from longtime president Tamara Real.

The Arts Alliance Board of Directors has created a transition team to consider how to proceed with the search for a new president. The alliance is an umbrella coordination and support group for Washtenaw County arts organizations, as well as a direct sponsor of its own events and projects.

The alliance boad today released a statement reading, "The board is grateful to Susan for leading the Arts Alliance through a period of transition and for accomplishments made during her service: Increasing sponsorships and attendees to Convergence, the Arts Alliance's annual conference on arts and cultural issues in Washtenaw County; Overseeing a highly successful Art Walk; Increasing membership in the Arts Alliance; Continuing the development of a3arts.org into a comprehensive online home for arts and culture in Washtenaw County."

Froelich also issued a statement: "The community of people involved in arts and culture in Washtenaw County - individual artists (music, visual, theater, film, etc.) volunteers, staff for arts organizations, along with the donors and customers who support all the organizations and individual artists- is very broad and very deep, and is a big part of what makes this area such a great place to live. I'm glad I had the chance to meet and re-connect with so many of you in the last year as President of the Arts Alliance, and look forward to continuing to be a part of the arts community as a volunteer and supporter for many years to come."