press release march 2011
(< Return to Press Releases)Community School of Music and Arts Appoints Moy Eng as its New Executive Director
(Mountain View, CA) The Board of Directors of the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) has announced the appointment of Moy Eng as the school’s new Executive Director. Moy Eng is known nationally for her work with non-profit organizations devoted to arts and culture. From 2001-2009 she worked as the Program Director, Performing Arts, at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, leading one of the largest arts grantmaking programs in the US, and setting a new strategic direction to support artists and arts organizations, provide more aesthetically diverse opportunities for Bay Area arts participation, and increase opportunities for arts education.
Eng’s selection as CSMA’s tenth executive director in its history comes after a 7-month search to identify the best leader for the $4.3 million organization committed to providing Arts for All. She will assume the position as of March 22, 2011. “Moy’s professional and personal life has been devoted to the arts and arts education,” said Bob Reay, Chair, CSMA Board of Directors. “Her wide-ranging leadership and fundraising experience, deep knowledge and understanding of the challenges facing arts education, and engaging personal style make her the ideal candidate to lead CSMA in the future.”
In selecting Moy Eng, Reay said that board members felt that her experience in all aspects of arts administration, programming, strategic planning, and outreach to diverse communities would greatly benefit CSMA. “Her leadership, vision and track record of coming up with bold and pragmatic solutions to critical problems facing arts, culture and education will be an asset to the entire Silicon Valley community,” said Reay. Eng’s understanding of the connection between arts and technology and her commitment to innovative ideas led to seed funding from the Hewlett Foundation for Zero1, a new international digital art festival and symposium.
“In coming to CSMA, I truly feel like I am ‘coming home,’” said Moy Eng. “Opportunities for the creative growth and learning that are uniquely provided by arts education are at the core of CSMA’s mission and have been the driving force for me throughout my professional career and in my own life.” Eng went on to say that she looked forward to deepening ways in which CSMA could increase its commitment to Arts for All! “As a community arts education center, CSMA is poised to collaborate and tap into the rich mix of technology, innovation, and cultural diversity that define Silicon Valley.”
During Eng’s 8-year tenure as the Program Director, Performing Arts, at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, among her numerous achievements, she developed an arts education initiative comprising research, advocacy, and exemplar programs, which led to over $800 million in new public funds for arts education to 6.2 million CA public schoolchildren. This singular effort included: a suite of landmark research studies commissioned from SRI on the state of arts education in California, widely used by educators and policymakers nationally; and an investment to seed California’s PTA’s strategic plan and initial efforts to unite one million parents to increase arts learning for schoolchildren statewide.
During her 20-year career, Eng has worked with approximately 500 non-profit organizations, gaining an understanding of organizations across multiple fields, including the arts, education, renewable energy, and human rights in the U.S. and nationally. Her 15 years of development experience includes serving as Director of Development at the Alvin Alley Dance Theater Foundation in New York.
Moy Eng holds degrees from New York University (M.A., Arts Administration) and Rutgers University (B.A., Theater Arts). A trained classical singer, Eng works actively as a songwriter and vocalist, performing at Yoshi’s, San Jose Jazz Festival and area clubs.
For the past 7 months, CSMA has been led by Kathy Thibodeaux, who stepped off the Board of Directors to serve as CSMA’s Interim Executive Director, thus allowing CSMA to conduct a thorough search to identify its next leader. “The Board of Directors is deeply grateful to Kathy for setting aside her business activities temporarily to serve as our Executive Director on an interim basis. She has done an outstanding job,” said Bob Reay.
Thibodeaux has been elected and will rejoin CSMA’s Board of Directors once Eng assumes her new role as Executive Director. “I loved my interim role leading CSMA, and I am thrilled with the selection of Moy Eng to lead us into a new and exciting chapter. I greatly look forward to working with her,” said Kathy Thibodeaux.
The Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Finn Center is a regional center for arts education committed to providing Arts for All, regardless of age, level, background or economic means. Since its founding in 1968, the school has grown to become the largest non-profit provider of arts education programs in Silicon Valley and is among the 10 largest schools of its kind in the nation. Annually, CSMA reaches more than 40,000 people of all ages. CSMA provides: classes, lessons and camps; concerts, lectures and exhibitions; and free community events. CSMA’s in-school programs (Art4Schools, Music4Schools) serve over 7,000 children at more than 30 schools in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. In keeping with its commitment to accessibility, the school provides financial aid through tuition assistance, merit scholarships and program subsidies. CSMA is located at Finn Center, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View. INFO: www.arts4all.org; 650-917-6800.