Samantha Howard will begin her role as President and CEO of Arts Council on September 23, 2024.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (SEPT 5, 2024)—Following a national search, Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County has named Samantha Howard president and CEO. Howard has served as Executive Director of the Bayonne Economic Opportunity Foundation in Bayonne, N.J. since 2015 and will assume her new role in Winston-Salem beginning September 23, 2024.
“We conducted an extensive search that included candidates from across the country and believe that Samantha is the ideal executive to lead the Arts Council toward a very bright future,” Arts Council Board of Trustees Chair Chad Cheek said. “I want to thank the members of the search committee for working with us as we completed a methodical process of making this decision. I would also like to extend thanks to Howard Upchurch, the incoming board chair for serving as interim president and CEO of the Arts Council. We both look forward to working closely alongside Samantha to further the momentum and excitement that the Arts Council staff has created as we continue to celebrate our 75th anniversary this year.”
At the Bayonne Economic Opportunity Foundation, Howard transformed and rebranded the organization to become a high-performing agency, increased services, and met compliance
standards. In addition, she implemented emerging technologies and streamlined financial donations. Howard also championed a design-thinking and evidence-based approach for the Foundation’s grantmaking and program development, securing and allocating multi-million-dollar funds for a wide range of innovative projects.
Earlier in her career, she served as director of community development for the City of Bayonne, the deputy clerk of Superior Court in Dobson, N.C., and a paralegal and private attorney initiative coordinator for Legal Aid of Winston Salem.
“I am passionate and results-driven with extensive experience working with nonprofit organizations like Arts Council,” Howard said. “Throughout my career, I have fostered strategic partnerships across public, private, and non-profit sectors, including collaborations with Amazon, Costco, and United Way, to co-create and implement sustainable solutions to demonstrate my capacity to unify diverse stakeholders around common goals.
Howard has a unique and colorful history deeply rooted in the arts, which is an essential aspect of her personal and professional identity. She grew up in a household where the arts were more than just appreciated—they were lived. Her father was a visual artist who honed his craft at Winston Salem State University, and her aunt was a jazz singer who performed with the late, great Ramsey Lewis. Her husband's involvement as a pianist in the "Sounds of Philadelphia" music scene further enriched her exposure to the visual and performing arts.
Moreover, she pursued art appreciation classes at Winston Salem State University, recognizing early on the profound impact the arts have on storytelling and community development. Her passion for the arts permeates her professional work, as she consistently integrates this creative perspective to enhance economic and community projects.
“My husband and I are thrilled to return to Winston-Salem, where we have family,” she added. “Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County is widely known and respected on a national level for its groundbreaking accomplishments, and I look forward to doing my part to assure the organization’s success and impact for many more years to come.”
A native of Mount Airy, Howard received a Master of Business Administration degree from Centenary University in Hackettstown, N.J., a Bachelor of Science degree from Winston-Salem State University and an Associates of Applied Science degree from Surry Community College in Dobson.
Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County is the leading advocate of the arts in our region and seeks to enhance and support the artistic and cultural landscape of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Established on August 9, 1949, Arts Council has been a vital part of our community for 75 years. Arts Council’s owns and operates a campus which includes the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, Sawtooth School for Visual Art, Hanesbrands Theatre, and more, serving as key hubs for creativity. In 2023, it hosted 670 on-campus events with 60,000 attendees, showcasing theater, dance, comedy, music, visual arts, literary arts and more. As a grant maker, Arts Council distributed over $1.2 million in grants in 2023, benefiting over 800,000 people.
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