The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County is about to see a transition at the top of its ranks.
Chairman Eric McKeithan is leaving Wilmington for the western part of the state, and the person poised to take the helm is a nationally-known figure in the literary world.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clyde Edgerton writes. He’s written novels, essays, a memoir, short stories – and most recently – a book of advice for new fathers. He’s also a distinguished professor of creative writing at UNCW and the current Vice Chair of the Arts Council.
The transition from McKeithan to Edgerton, says Executive Director Rhonda Bellamy, will be seamless -- partly because the Council’s focus remains on growth.
“Clyde comes with a lot of experience in other markets because of his own writing career and some really great ideas about how we fundraise and how we build that steady foundation that we’re seeking to build. We’re just several months into this – still.”
Bellamy says McKeithan, the former President of Cape Fear Community College, told the Council about his plans to leave several weeks ago. Edgerton steps into the new spot on September 15th.
Established a year and a half ago, the Arts Council has grown from four board members to twelve over the last eight months.
