The Greater Hartford Arts Council will have new leadership this spring following the board’s announcement that Rev. Shelley D. Best is taking over as CEO in April.
The Greater Hartford Arts Council announced Tuesday that Best will be the organization’s new CEO beginning April 18. She’ll take over for interim CEO Kate McOmber, who has been serving in that capacity since September 2020. McOmber will assume the role of chief operating officer when Best moves to CEO.
Best comes to the arts council with more than 20 years of nonprofit experience in the Hartford area, including as executive director of The Conference of Churches since 2001. During her time there, Best helped update and expand the organization’s mission toward a more inclusive, community driven group, according to information from the arts council.
Best founded 224 EcoSpace in 2012, an arts, health and wellness center in Hartford.
According to information from the Greater Hartford Arts Council, Best’s appointment comes after a five-month hiring process led by the board of directors’ search committee and consultant firm TSNE. More than 70 people applied for the post and feedback from more than 600 community members and stakeholders were taken into consideration. Funding for the search was provided by a grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.
