Fred Baldwin and Wendy Watriss in Krasnodar. photo: Dmitry Fisenko
“After 26 years creating and developing FotoFest, it is time for new leadership,” say FotoFest Co-founders Wendy Watriss and Fred Baldwin. “As part of FotoFest’s Board of Directors, we are inviting nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director of FotoFest.”
Fotofest is Watriss and Baldwin’s baby: they have led the development of the organization since its founding in 1983, growing it from a citywide Month of Photography in 1986, into an organization that sponsors four to six new photographic exhibitions and events in Houston each year, traveling exhibitions, the literacy through photography program, and its headliner, the sprawling Fotofest biennial, with an average annual budget of $1.7 million+ for the Biennial years and $800,000 for non-Biennial years.
The new Director will have four big shoes to fill, leading and overseeing the org’s future growth. The application deadline for the job is July 1, 2013
2 comments
Thanks for helping us get the word out Bill, but there is just a bit of clarification needed.
We are looking for a new Executive Director, but that doesn’t mean that Fred and Wendy aren’t going anywhere, anytime soon. This is not an announcement of their retirement.
It is about succession of our Founders, but it is not a quick or unexpected change. Discussions and planning have been happening for years. Wendy and Fred, and the Board of Directors, want to see the organization on sure footing, with good leadership in the future and are committed to shepherding the new Director, staff and our constituency through the transition.
With creative and administrative plans already in process, Wendy and Fred are committed to the organization at least through 2016.
Mr. Hopson’s comment is a very important clarification.