NARROWSBURG — The board of directors of the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA) announced that Ariel Shanberg will join the organization as Executive Director in June 2017. Shanberg succeeds Elaine Giguere who co-founded and oversaw the non-profit arts organization for 42 years.

“The Board of Directors is excited and thrilled with Ariel's selection as our Executive Director,” says DVAA Board President Jeffrey Allison. “He is experienced in managing arts organizations, but even more importantly, he has a passion for the arts and how the arts build community. We look forward to introducing Ariel to everyone.”

From 2003 to 2015, Shanberg was the Executive Director at the Center for Photography at Woodstock. Under his leadership CPW received numerous accolades including the 2009 Spotlight Award for significantly altering the landscape of photography from the Lucie Foundation, the 2014 Ulster County Executive Arts Award for Arts Organization of the Year. In 2014, its residency program was listed as one of the top twenty programs in the United States.

Shanberg recently relocated from Woodstock, NY to Woodridge, NY.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be joining the staff and board of DVAA at this exciting juncture. Elaine’s remarkable vision and leadership of DVAA has truly transformed the cultural landscape of Sullivan County and I am looking forward to building on such a proud legacy,” says Shanberg. “With the rising popularity of our region and the vital role the arts play both in Sullivan County’s economy and the quality of life it provides, DVAA, through its role as the Arts Council of Sullivan County and its rich range of programming including its galleries, offerings at the Tusten Theatre, Riverfest and the Big Eddy Film Festival, is uniquely poised to strengthen the vast network of creative voices that are making this area their home and connect them with new and enthusiastic audiences.”

“Ariel’s experience with community development and running an arts organization, along with his personal commitment to art-making, makes him uniquely qualified to take the reins,” says Giguere, who will retire at the end of June. “I feel confident that DVAA will be in good hands with Ariel at the helm.”