The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art Welcomes New Executive Director

"RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) welcomes Gordon Peterson as its new executive director. "I am thrilled that Gordon Peterson has taken on this important role," said Susan Kluttz, Secretary of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources (DCR). "His enthusiasm for the arts and for the Winston-Salem community are an asset to his new position." A marketing consultant, Peterson also serves on the SECU Family House Board in Chapel Hill, the Advisory Board for Triad Stage and the Clemmons Friends of the Library Board. He served six years on the Piedmont Opera Board and formerly served on the boards of the Winston-Salem Symphony and the Reynolda House Docents and was president of the SECCA Foundation. He is currently a volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters.  "Gordon Peterson brings imagination, experience and a lively energy to SECCA at a time when community engagement and growth are central priorities," said Lawrence J. Wheeler, Director of the North Carolina Museum of Art. SECCA is an affiliate of the North Carolina Museum of Art. A graduate of the University of N.C. School of Journalism, Peterson has spent the majority of his career in the advertising agency business, both in New York and North Carolina. His experience and extensive skill sets include arts management, both museum and board leadership; strategic planning; fundraising; finance; education and community relations. "I am excited about this opportunity to work with the talented staff here at SECCA to help fulfill its mission of bringing art, technology and engagement to enhance perspectives, inspire our community and ignite new ideas," said Peterson. About SECCA The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, seeks to enhance perspectives, inspire community and ignite new ideas at the intersection of art and its visitors. Located at 750 Marguerite Drive, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday. For hours, please visitwww.secca.org. SECCA is an affiliate of the North Carolina Museum of Art, a division of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. SECCA receives operational funding from The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Additional funding is provided by the James G. Hanes Memorial Fund. About the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources (NCDCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state's cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. Led by Secretary Susan Kluttz, NCDCR's mission is improve our state's quality of life by creating opportunities that promote economic development, stimulate learning, preserve the state's history and spark creativity to experience excellence in the arts, history and libraries in North Carolina. NCDCR was the first state organization in the nation to include all agencies for arts and culture under one umbrella. Through arts efforts led by the N.C. Arts Council, the N.C. Symphony and the N.C. Museum of Art, NCDCR offers the opportunity for enriching arts education for young and old alike and spurring the economic stimulus engine for our state's communities. NCDCR's Divisions of State Archives, Historical Resources, State Historic Sites and State History Museums preserve, document and interpret North Carolina's rich cultural heritage to offer experiences of learning and reflection. NCDCR's State Library of North Carolina is the principal library of state government and builds the capacity of all libraries in our state to develop and to offer access to educational resources through traditional and online collections including genealogy and resources for people who are blind and have physical disabilities.      NCDCR annually serves more than 19 million people through its 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, the nation's first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the N.C. Arts Council and the State Archives. NCDCR champions our state's creative industry that accounts for more than 300,000 jobs and generates nearly $18.5 billion in revenues. For more information, please call (919) 807-7300 or visit www.ncdcr.gov." - A Press Release