Jessica Jarratt Hired As Creative Advocacy Network's Executive Director

After an exhaustive search and rigorous interview process, Creative Advocacy Network's (CAN) board of directors hired Jessica Jarratt as its executive director, beginning July 1.

"Research shows heightened local awareness around the need for deeper funding solutions for the arts," said Chris Coleman chair of CAN's board of directors and Portland Center Stage's artistic director. "Jessica's energy, enthusiasm and creativity to bringing diverse groups together are leadership qualities that will ensure success."

Jarratt joins the Creative Advocacy Network with 18 years of experience as a fundraiser and nonprofit leader, having secured more than $35 million in funding for education, arts and culture, the environment, social services and civil rights.

The Portland metro area's local arts organizations receive a little less than two percent of their budgets from local government sources, compared to a five percent national average, according to research by the Regional Arts & Culture Council and National Endowment for the Arts.

"Portland has the creative talent and creative class to inspire a thriving, innovation economy," said Jarratt. "Now, we need to get serious about securing stable, long-term funding."

This announcement follows the recent release of the Creative Action Plan for the Portland Metropolitan Region on April 13 and Portland City Council's May 27 budget approval, including CAN and other arts funding.

Jarratt replaces interim executive director Kathleen Cosgrove, who was instrumental in the formation of CAN and the Creative Action Plan. CAN's board expressed its gratitude to Cosgrove for her leadership and ongoing efforts on behalf of Portland's arts community.

Prior to joining CAN, Jarratt spent the past eight years as a Portland-based non-profit consultant. She has structured and grown nonprofit organizations, established successful public-private partnerships and launched vital new programs in Oregon, Washington, California and Washington D.C. She served as vice president of development for the Children's Cancer Association, as interim executive director of the Crater Lake National Park Trust as well as a statewide fundraising director for the National MS Society. Her client list has included many of Oregon's most well-established organizations and agencies including SOLV, Oregon Children's Theatre, the Oregon Institute of Technology, Tri-Met, the Portland Opera and Cascade AIDS Project. Jarratt received a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received her fundraising certification from Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy.

The executive director search committee was chaired by CAN's board vice president and PICA executive director, Victoria Frey, and included CAN board members Chandra Brown, Saskia de Boer and Shelly Parini, with the search was led by Nancy King. Because of CAN's unique role as the advocacy force for the region's arts and culture community, the committee actively solicited and considered feedback from regional arts organizations and leading arts advocates in making its decision.