Malden Resident Joins New England Foundation For The Arts Council

MALDEN, MA — A Malden resident was one of eight new members recently appointed to the advisory council of the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA). Launched in 2017, council members serve as NEFA's strategic advisors and community ambassadors.

Members of the advisory council are charged with providing their professional expertise and diverse knowledge, including of artists and cultural enterprises, philanthropic practice, nonprofit business practice and policies that impact artists, the cultural sector, community development, and entrepreneurship.

Malden resident Kerry Thompson, who serves as executive director of Silent Rhythms and the senior officer of the Disability Rights Fund, was appointed to the council.

David Howse of ArtsEmerson and Liana Krupp of the Krupp Family Foundation, co-chairs of NEFA's Advisory Council, said, "We look forward to expanding NEFA’s connections and engaging as a strategic think tank."

"As we begin our 45th year, the best way we can imagine our future is to work alongside this circle of strategic advisors to help us understand how we can be ever-more equitable and impactful stewards of resources," NEFA Executive Director Cathy Edwards said in a statement. "We are grateful for the contributions of members who rotated off of the Council this year: Sandra Burton, Sara Coffey, Molly Davies, Ana Flores, Felicia Knight, Angie Lane, Denise Menton, Frank Mitchell, and Anita Walker."

The new Advisory Council members are:

• Christal Brown, INSPIRIT dance company; Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT
• Kara Elliott-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture, City of Boston, Boston, MA
• Orlando Hernández, Performer, Teacher, Writer, Providence, RI
• Adriane Jefferson, Director of Cultural Affairs, City of New Haven, CT
• Chris Newell (Passamaquoddy), Executive Director, Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, ME
• Melissa Richmond, musician and Executive Director, West Claremont Center for the Arts, Claremont, NH
• Larry Simpson, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA
• Kerry Thompson, Executive Director, Silent Rhythms; Senior Officer, Disability Rights Fund, Boston, MA