Helen Day’s next leader comes from within

“Rachel has been a major contributor to the vision, direction and success of Helen Day Art Center since 2011 when she became assistant director,” said Jay Ericson, Helen Day board chairman, in a press release. “She has been instrumental in advancing the organization’s brand as a contemporary art destination whose programming — exhibitions, education and public programs — are distinguished for their quality and ambition. She is widely respected in Stowe and in the region as an artist and strategic thinker. We are fortunate to have Rachel lead our organization into the future.”

Moore began working for Helen Day in fall of 2010 as an independent curator, and was hired on staff in 2011 as the assistant director and chief curator.

“The last six years of curating here has led to a deep interest in organizing and sharing ideas through a multiplicity of artists’ perspectives and utilizing that information as an educational tool,” Moore said.

Moore thinks the educational aspects of Helen Day are vital, too. Some of her most gratifying moments were hearing elementary and middle school students asking to continue their lessons on activism and revolution in their classrooms. Seeing the response from the students is what drives Moore to continue what she is doing.

Watching Ginny Neel and Shap Smith speak at the center’s Black and White Ball about the impact of arts on the Stowe community, and the community’s impact on Helen Day Art Center is a moment Moore says she won’t forget either.

Prior experience

Moore is no stranger to exhibition spaces like the one at Helen Day. Before coming to Stowe, Moore started an exhibition and event space in Chicago; she taught university-level art classes to adults and teens; she curated and led large scale community-based and international projects. She is an artist herself.

“I have my (master of fine arts degree) and was a Fulbright Fellow so I’m fully steeped in visual arts — creative thinking and making,” Moore said.

She said her work on the board of River Arts in Morristown, her job as assistant director, and her curating experience have helped her “to think on a higher level about vision and sustainability,” and how best to run and support nonprofits.

Moore is interested in fine-tuning the structure at Helen Day to ensure that it is sustainable and efficient, as well as a collaborating and engaging place to work and to visit.

New hires

In addition to Moore’s promotion, the Helen Day plans to hire a director of advancement to support her work.

It has also hired a new operations manager and program assistant, Chiyomi McKibben; she just arrived from the San Francisco Bay area to take this position. That’s the area Suter left to come to Vermont.

She will be doing higher-level executive assistant work, and will support education and the exhibitions.

McKibben “is highly organized, bright, professional and a pleasure to work with,” Moore said. “Her background in the arts and in other work is a perfect fit for what we were seeking.”

The director of advancement, once hired, will assume a senior leadership role in the growth of the organization, primarily in expanding support through fundraising and volunteers.