Dan Bowers is retiring from ArtsBuild in June, 2019
After 11 years as President of ArtsBuild, Dan Bowers announced plans to retire in June 2019.
When asked which ArtsBuild accomplishments he is most proud of, Mr. Bowers mentioned the important transformation the organization has gone through in order to focus on the community and the role the arts play in strengthening Chattanooga and Hamilton County. He also pointed with pride to Imagine Chattanooga 20/20, the year-long, community-wide cultural planning initiative ArtsBuild led during his tenure, as well as the organization’s development of and move into The Arts Building on East 11th Street.
“I have worked in the nonprofit world my entire career,” Mr. Bowers said. “These last 11 years with ArtsBuild have been my most enjoyable and rewarding.”
Mr. Bowers spent 22 years with United Way, including eight years as the executive director of the United Way in his home town of Gadsden, Al. and 14 years with the United Way of Greater Chattanooga – six years as campaign director and eight as president. After United Way and prior to joining ArtsBuild, Mr. Bowers helped establish the Memorial Health Care System Foundation, serving five years as president.
Mr. During Bowers’ tenure, ArtsBuild also rebranded. Known as Allied Arts since its creation in 1969, the organization changed its name in 2012 to signify a refreshed mission and vision.
ArtsBuild’s Board Chair Dr. Mary Tanner said, “Dan Bowers has helped enhance Chattanooga’s reputation as a creative, collaborative community by encouraging artistic expression throughout the city. Visitors see the way the city has built on its natural assets to become even more of a cultural destination. The mark of a leader is that he or she leaves a legacy for the next leader to build upon. Dan has done that for ArtsBuild.”
ArtsBuild will conduct a national search for its next president.