A new Visual Arts Coordinator is on the job with Salina Arts and Humanities. According to the agency, Grace Peterson has been selected as the agency’s new Visual Arts Coordinator.

Anative of Parker, Colorado, Peterson holds a BFA with an emphasis in sculpture from the University of Kansas. She also has a degree in applied arts from Johnson County Community College.

Most recently, Peterson served as the lead instructor for the Lawrence Arts Center, developing educational curriculum and teaching classes including print making, clay and kinetic art. Peterson also worked in Lawrence with Van Go, Inc., in which disadvantaged youth are paid to make marketable art in a job-training setting. As part of her civic leadership, Peterson chaired the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission, also overseeing public art guided by the Percent for Art Committee. At The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Peterson taught art to non-English-speaking preschoolers and other special populations, and also worked with inner-city students enrolled in Operation Breakthrough.

In her work in Salina Peterson will oversee the River Festival’s two juried art shows, Art Demo area, outdoor Art Installations and the growing Art Patron Program. She also is the Salina Arts and Humanities liaison to the Community Art and Design Program and its advisory committee, and will serve as a public and visual-arts resource for local artists and arts organizations.

Arts and Humanities Executive Director Anderson says “Grace brings a strong record of service and engagement to Salina. We are excited to have her as a resource to our community.”