PACA has a new Executive Director!

Arts and Cultural Alliance names new director

The Portland Arts and Cultural Alliance has hired Catherine Valenza as its executive director.

PACA serves as the local arts agency for Portland, with a focus on supporting individual artists. Valenza brings 25 years of nonprofit experience. She has an extensive curatorial background, serving both regional and national contemporary and experimental artists.

She has focused on building partnerships to create opportunities for artists to present their work.

In a statement, she said, "I feel strongly about the need to not only support artists but to also educate the community about the benefits of encouraging creative endeavors. Educating audiences helps to foster appreciation for the important role artists serve within a community and is as important as providing resources to artists."

Valenza's primary responsibility will be to organize the First Friday Art Walk, assuming the duties currently held by Aucosisco Galleries. Valenza will meet the community at the next Creative Conversations, a regular networking forum of PACA, at 7 p.m. Aug. 7 at Space Gallery, 538 Congress St.

Valenza will keep office hours beginning July 8. She will work at office space donated by Portland's Downtown District at 549 Congress St. She can be reached info@portlandarts.org.