Release Date: August 2,2023
Akron Soul Train Welcomes Pita Brooks as New Executive Director
August 2, 2023, Akron, Ohio – Akron Soul Train (AST) celebrates and welcomes new Executive Director, Pita Brooks. With a diverse background as a multimedia artist and extensive experience in arts administration, Brooks brings lively perspective and knowledge to her Executive Director position at AST.
As a multimedia artist, Pita Brooks innovates with various materials and techniques that include painting, photography, and encaustic. Brooks seeks personal challenge and discovery in her art and so ventures into media genres such as audio/video, installation, and performative works.
Before joining AST, Brooks served as the Visitor Services and Museum Store Manager at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland (MOCA) and as the Associate Director of Admissions at the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA). Experienced in various departments of art institutions, Brooks has a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities surrounding arts organizations.
In addition to her professional achievements, Brooks has actively contributed to the arts community as a volunteer at SPACES Gallery since 2012. She also served as an annual benefit committee member, demonstrating her commitment to fostering artistic engagement and collaboration. In addition, Pita Brooks and her husband Kristin Rogers manage and curate newsense projects, a small gallery and project space based in their Lakewood Ohio home. Their gallery serves as a platform for inclusive conversations within the arts.
As the new Executive Director of AST, Brooks will lead the organization's multidisciplinary residency program. The program provides artists with space, time, and financial support to create and present new works to the public. She aims to strengthen AST's impact in the Akron community and beyond, cultivating an environment that nurtures creativity, innovation, and artistic excellence.
"I am honored to be joining Akron Soul Train as the Executive Director," said Pita Brooks. "AST plays a vital role in supporting artists and promoting artistic exploration. I look forward to working with the talented individuals within the organization and the wider community to create opportunities for new and seasoned voices in the Akron arts scene."
Under Pita Brooks’ guidance, AST hopes to create transformative experiences for artists and audiences alike. Her passion for the arts, commitment to community engagement, and proven leadership in arts administration make her a pragmatic and ideal leader. Stop into the Akron Soul Train Gallery and help us welcome our new Executive Director, Pita Brooks.
About Akron Soul Train: Akron Soul Train (AST) is a multidisciplinary residency program in Akron, Ohio. AST provides visual, performing, and literary artists with paid residencies, offering them space, time, and financial support to create and present new works. In addition to fostering artistic experimentation, AST encourages artists to develop public programs that engage and inspire the Akron community.
For more information, please visit our website at www.akronsoultrain.org or send congratulations to Pita Brooks, Executive Director at pita@akronsoultrain.org.