The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SACCA) has chosen four new board members to help further the reach of the growing nonprofit. Each new director brings extensive community experience to the table, honed from years of success in the business world and in leadership roles with a variety of arts and community associations.

The new board members – Beth Bank, Ben Hawkins, Don Luria and Kimberly Schmitz hail from different backgrounds but now they pursue together a common goal of strengthening the role of the arts in their community.    The organization’s Director Kate Marquez stated:  ”Their experience and expertise should enhance SACCA’s reputation in the community and aid the organization in its effort to expand its programs and offerings throughout Southern Arizona.”

These new board members are extremely active in the community on many levels, from the culinary arts to building construction. In the past, the nonprofit arts group focused its efforts mainly in the greater Oro Valley region, but last summer the group changed its name to the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, in part to signal a change in direction.

In the months since, SAACA has added events to its schedule and forged new partnerships with outside groups to expand its reach. Later this month (March 27 and 28), SAACA will team with the Arizona State Museum to produce the Southwest Indian Art Fair Benefit at Desert Diamond Casino. Budget cuts at the museum previously threatened to cancel the long-running art fair but with a joint effort of the museum, its board and SAACA They have saved it.

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