Leadership News from Art Matters

On behalf of our Board of Directors, we are delighted to share news of changes at Art Matters that reflect progressive growth for the Foundation and opportunities for our beloved team. This spring, the current position of Director, held by Sacha Yanow, will be reorganized into two roles - Advisor and Program Director.

Nearly 12 years ago, after a hiatus of Art Matters grantmaking, Sacha was hired to jump-start a new chapter in our organization. Inspired by our first wave of grantmaking during the 1980s and 1990s, Sacha has transformed Art Matters’ legacy and values into a dynamic, intergenerational organization. With impeccable administrative and fiscal knowledge, she has built an efficient and solid organizational structure; from an artist’s perspective, she has advocated for individual artists who are advancing issues of social justice and liberation.

Art Matters has put artists first since our inception, and we are honored that our organization has been staffed by working artists. As a board of artists and arts professionals, we understand the balancing act of maintaining and growing an art practice, while supporting it through meaningful work as an arts administrator. Sacha has managed these roles with flair, and we are delighted that she will be devoting more time and energy to her art. We celebrate her decision to focus on her remarkable performance practice and are thrilled that she will continue to impact Art Matters’ present and future.

Sacha will remain engaged with Art Matters by moving into an advisory role with the Foundation. In her new role as Advisor, Sacha will step back from daily oversight of the Foundation and work more closely with our board, staff, and colleagues on long-term strategies to advance Art Matters' mission.

We are also proud to welcome Abbey Williams into her new role as Program Director, in which she will oversee the Foundation’s programs and operations. Since joining Art Matters in 2016, Abbey has worked alongside Sacha in every area of our grant program and brings a deep generosity and wisdom to our work. As a video artist herself, she continues the lineage of artists who lead Art Matters.

We look forward to moving ahead in our work together with all of you.

Warmly,

Alexander Gray, President
Laura Donnelley, Chair

On behalf of the Art Matters Board