By Mary Goldmeer
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The West Valley Arts Council appointed Kathy Knecht as its new executive director.

Knecht has been the WVAC interim executive director since July 2024 where she was filling in for former Executive Director Michael Denson after he stepped down from the position to be deputy director after two years in the executive role. 

 “It has been such a great honor to lead such an incredible organization over the past two years,” Denson said. "WVAC has entered an exciting new era in its lifecycle in having Kathy Knecht on board. I believe her leadership is key in ensuring that our mission moves forward and that arts and culture in the West Valley remain a vital component of our economy and quality of life.”

Knecht started with the organization as an employee developing youth arts programming in the late 1990s and worked as a board member two separate times.

“I’ve always been passionate about the West Valley Arts Council,” Knecht said, “I love it, not as an artist myself, but as a true appreciator of the arts, mostly from the perspective of what arts can do for the community. It brings people together. It makes people think about things.”

The WVAC is a nonprofit that serves West Valley communities by providing accessible arts programing, education and connections.

“West Valley Arts Council has done amazing work throughout its 54-year history,” Denson said, “I had the privilege of helping the organization refine its vision and establish new initiatives that will become vital resources for the creative community.”

 Through events, networking and installations executive directors like Denson and the staff at WVAC have been advocating for diverse artistic involvement since the organizations start, now the torch passes to Knecht and her team. She and the WVAC’s board of 10 members pull from different artistic, cultural and professional experiences to best serve the communities they represent.

Knecht’s background in education, executive director of — and as a nonprofit consultant guides her perspective on the WVAC’s projects and the organization as a whole.

“I’ve been out here in the West Valley promoting all things good for quality of life for most of my adult life,” Knecht said, “I always felt like education was a vehicle to make the world a better place and certainly this is another step in that journey.”

According to the National Endowment for the Arts, public arts strengthen cultural identity, promote economic growth and allow patrons and artists to develop a sense of belonging.

Knecht said she and the WVAC are working to give West Valley citizens the opportunity to reap those benefits.

“We are poised to grow this organization and provide artists, and the patrons of the arts, incredible opportunities moving forward,” Knecht said. According to Knecht, the WVAC is planning to debut new programs incentivizing connection between artists, cities, organizations and patrons. Before the new programs start, the WVAC has local events and art shows happening at their Surprise headquarters and around the West Valley.

Visit westvalleyarts.org for more information on Knecht and WVAC events.