LOUISVILLE, KY, APRIL 10, 2014 – The Fund for the Arts announced today that it will award the inaugural Allan Cowen Innovation Fund for Advancement of the Arts grant to Alison Huff, Managing Director of Walden Theatre. The $5,000 to $10,000 grant, established in 2013 to honor Cowen for his leadership, innovation and advancement of the Arts in the Kentuckiana region provides funding for Arts administrators and artists to pursue professional development opportunities which will allow them to explore innovative ideas, further develop their skills, and advance the Arts community long term.
Huff has been with Walden Theatre for seven years, serving in her current role for the last five. With the grant, Huff will attend the Harvard Business School Executive Education: Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Leadership Program this summer.
According to Huff, “HBS can provide valuable education to help me hone skills and learn international best practices in nonprofit management, building on my Master’s education at UofL.” While there, Huff will also visit Project Zero – Harvard Graduate School of Education’s arts education research initiative allowing her to learn best practices to apply to evaluation efforts in Louisville.
“There were many excellent applicants this year.” said Cowen. “Alison’s commitment to Louisville and her vision for the Arts were exemplary. We are excited to embark on this journey with her and look forward to the knowledge and leadership she will bring back to our community.”
The Klein family provided significant seed funding for this concept. Persons interested in supporting the Allan Cowen Innovation Fund can do so by making a restricted gift to the Fund for the Arts.
For more information on the Allen Cowen Arts Innovation Award visit: http://bit.ly/1gcAgWB
Barbara Sexton Smith and Allan Cowen present Alison Huff with the 2014 Arts Innovation Award.
