Kim Estes McCarty to Lead PlatteForum as Executive Director

Kim Estes McCarty to Lead PlatteForum as Executive DirectorDenver, CO – PlatteForum is pleased to announce that Kim Estes McCarty will lead the organization as Executive Director beginning January 11, 2016. McCarty brings over 20 years of experience in community relations, marketing, communications, human resources and fundraising to PlatteForum.As Executive Director, McCarty will lead PlatteForum by guiding the strategic vision to support PlatteForum’s artistic mission and values, enhancing PlatteForum’s artistic and programmatic recognition and seeking continued organizational growth. McCarty will manage all organizational operations, as well as oversee and expand PlatteForum’s partnerships throughout the local, national and international arts community.“We are thrilled to have Kim at the helm of PlatteForum,” says Amy Cara, PlatteForum Board of Directors Co-Chair. “The wealth of experience she brings to our organization was truly unmatched in our extensive search. We are lucky to have found the perfect fit, right here in Denver.”Most recently serving as the director of Marketing & Development with the Art Students League of Denver, McCarty spent five years helping ASLD create new funding sources while dramatically increasing the League's exposure. She has worked for and with organizations such as DIRECTV, American Red Cross Mile High Chapter, Daniels College of Business, HealthONE Hospitals, Mile High United Way, and CORE Colorado, focusing on marketing, community engagement and employee relations. McCarty studied journalism and art at Arizona State University and continues to dabble in visual art and creative writing as a hobby. She has volunteered for multiple organizations, including Denver School of the Arts, Project Angel Heart, Instituo Global and currently serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe, Colorado’s first state certified Art District. Additionally, McCarty is a member of the DAM Associates for the Denver Art Museum and is an active patron with multiple arts and culture institutions.“It was a difficult decision last year for me to take a step back from running PlatteForum full-time,” says Judy Anderson, Consultant and former PlatteForum Artistic/Founding Director. “I know that Kim is the perfect choice to lead PlatteForum into a bright future.”About PlatteForumFounded in 2002 as a community resource to support working artists and youth through collaboration and the creative process, PlatteForum’s artist residencies offer time, space, and resources for professional artists to create new work and shape an experience where young people can learn through practice, expanding their sense of what is possible. During each residency, PlatteForum teams the artist with small groups of young people from neighborhoods throughout Denver to produce and exhibit a collaborative body of work. This award-winning nonprofit organization provides a nurturing space where creativity and artistic excellence are highly valued and where artists and youth work together to model the creative process, emphasizing the connections between their artistic passion, significant life experiences, and public issues. The overall experience transforms the lives of the youth, the artists and the community. For more information visit www.platteforum.org.