ArtWorks, the Greater Cincinnati nonprofit that employs youth to create art and community impact, has named a new top executive and announced plans to move its headquarters next year.
Lauren Hannan Shafer will serve as CEO effective immediately, the board of trustees announced Friday morning. Tamara Harkavy, the group's most recent CEO, will continue to serve as founder and artistic director.
“We’re thrilled to have Lauren’s leadership on board as ArtWorks begins planning our 25th season,” Emma Off, ArtWorks board chair, said in a release. “Having the right person partner with Tamara is critical to our organization’s future. Tamara has built ArtWorks into one of our region’s treasures, so we are excited to offer the organization more support as Tamara continues to refine ArtWorks’ artistic vision.”
The organization also announced plans to move from its current home in the Hale Justice building at 20 E. Central Parkway to a new space in the Carl Solway Gallery building at 424 Findlay St. in the West End in early 2020. The gallery has moved to the second floor to accommodate ArtWorks' move into the first floor of the building.
Harkavy founded ArtWorks in 1996 on the lawn of the former School for Creative and Performing Arts in Pendleton. Since that time, the organization has employed more than 3,500 youth apprentices under the mentorship of professional artists and completed more than 12,000 public and private art projects.
“For the past year, I have been working with our board of trustees on how best I can focus and lead the creative and artistic sides of ArtWorks,” Harkavy said. “I am grateful to the board and our team at ArtWorks for the opportunity for this transition. We’re an amazing creative incubator thanks to the support of our many partners, and we will continue to be at the forefront of creating a lasting impact for youth, artists and our local community.”
ArtWorks was one of the producers of the 2019 Blink light, art and culture celebration this month that drew the largest-ever crowd to a single event in Greater Cincinnati's history.
Before accepting her new position, Shafer served on the board of ArtWorks since 2015. For 10 years, she has been co-chair of Saturday Hoops, the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative program that uses sports, recreation and arts to connect inner-city teens with adult role models. She developed the program's mentorship initiative in coordination with CYC, matching 27 youth with mentors, and expanded the program’s partnerships to include A2C Photography, Adopt a Book, Cleats For Kids, La Soupe, University of Cincinnati, Youth Hope and several yoga studios.
Previously, Shafer was a talent scout and manager for PCG Talent Agency and a broadcast producer at Ogilvy in New York City. She received her bachelor's degree from Denison University.
A native Cincinnatian who currently resides in Indian Hill, Shafer received the United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s Clement L. Buenger Award for Leadership in Education in 2018.