Kim Baker Named New President of Kentucky Center

The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts completed its five month national search for a new President today when it announced the selection of Kim Baker, former Senior Vice President of External Affairs, as the newly appointed President of the organization.

Baker will replace Stephen Klein, who left the Kentucky Center last summer after eight years due to health issues.

"Kim's long history with the arts in our community dates back to when she was a student and attended the Kentucky Center's highly competitive Governor's School for the Arts", said Rick Guillaume, chair of the Kentucky Center Foundation Board and search committee chair. "Kim's passion, strong relationships, and outstanding leadership in the arts community made her selection the clear choice."

During the search, Don Parkinson served as interim president of the Kentucky Center. Baker will assume the position within the next several weeks.

Kim Baker has spent her career working in the areas of arts administration and theatre management, communications, programming, and development and has held leadership positions with a variety of facilities, including the Singletary Center for the Arts, Louisville Gardens, Iroquois Amphitheater, the W.L. Lyons Brown Theater and The Kentucky Center.

The mission of The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts is to provide artistically diverse performances of the highest quality. The Center serves Kentucky through education and initiatives which expand and diversify audiences while enhancing their understanding, appreciation and support for the arts. The Center strives to challenge, stimulate, and entertain while operating in a fiscally responsible manner and acting as an economic and cultural catalyst for the Commonwealth.