The Walker County Arts Alliance (WCAA) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Katharine “Kat” Murray as the new Executive Director. Kat brings a wealth of experience in the arts, a passion for community engagement, and a dedication to fostering creativity throughout Walker County.
Kat holds an MFA in Studio Art from the University of Alabama and a BS in Fine Arts from the University of Montevallo. Specializing in printmaking and papermaking, she has spent years as a teaching artist and workshop coordinator, merging her love for creative problem-solving with her belief in the power of art to connect people. Kat also serves as a visual arts instructor in the Walker County Arts Alliance’s in-school programs, inspiring the next generation of young artists.
“I’m excited to step into this role at the Walker County Arts Alliance!” Kat shared. “While I’m not originally from Walker County, I’m from a small town in Alabama, and I know firsthand how vital arts programming is to a community. I look forward to building relationships and celebrating the arts with all the exciting events to come!”
Kat’s experience also includes grant review, which will be instrumental in furthering the mission of the WCAA to bring high-quality arts programming to the region.
The Walker County Arts Alliance is also immensely grateful to Nicholas Rizzo, who has served as interim director over the past few months, and to Kate Gurganus, the former Executive Director, who now serves on the WCAA Advisory Board. “We would have never gotten through the past few months without your help, and we are deeply appreciative of your continued support,” said the WCAA leadership.
Andrew Brasfield, President of the WCAA, expressed his enthusiasm for Kat’s appointment: “We are incredibly fortunate to have Kat join us as the new Executive Director. Her artistic vision, experience, and commitment to the community align perfectly with the values of the Walker County Arts Alliance. I am confident that under her leadership, we will continue to expand and enhance the arts programming in our region.”