Quad City Arts is going through another leadership change after the Rock Island-based group announced that Brian Allen is no longer serving as its executive director.
The non-profit arts group announced the leadership transition today, Thursday, Jan. 15.
“The Board of Directors thanks him for his service and contributions during his time with the organization. The board remains committed to ensuring continuity and stability for staff, artists, partners, and the broader community. Quad City Arts continues to focus on its mission to enrich the quality of life in the Quad Cities through the arts, and our programs, partnerships, and services will continue during this transition,” according to a statement posted on the Quad City Arts website and its Facebook page.
Sam McCullum, president of Quad City Arts Board of Directors, told the QCBJ today that the leadership change came after a recent organizational “internal review” focusing on the stability of the non-profit group. “We told Brian about this and he understood,” said Mr. McCullum, who did not disclose any details of the review.
The board president added that the organization’s next step will be to name an interim executive director, but did not state when that might happen.
Part of Thursday’s prepared statement stated: “Brian Allen brought experience in arts administration, education and community engagement to Quad City Arts. During his time, he worked alongside staff and community partners to support the organization’s core programs and community projects, helping sustain Quad City Arts’ ongoing work across education, public art and programming. The board thanks Brian for his service and for the time and energy he dedicated to advancing the organization’s mission.”
Previous QC roles
Mr. Allen was named executive director of Quad City Arts last spring. In April, he replaced Kevin Maynard, who left the executive director job to take a new position at Florida State University as executive director of its Opening Nights group.
Mr. Maynard was leader of Quad City Arts since late 2018.
Mr. Allen also was among the QCBJ’s Class of 2024 Forty under 40 honorees.
Before joining Quad City Arts, Mr. Allen was executive director of the German American Heritage Center in downtown Davenport.
Before that, he managed the Figge Art Museum’s Studio School and education galleries. He led the merger of the studio program with the Bereskin Academy, streamlining arts education opportunities for local students. He also curated community-driven exhibitions in collaboration with area school districts, colleges, and organizations reinforcing the Davenport museum’s role as a creative learning hub.
Quad City Arts is a non-profit arts organization serving a six-county area in eastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois. It is dedicated to the growth and vitality of the region through the presentation, development and celebration of arts by offering community arts opportunities, programming and community events.
