The St Charles Arts Council has hired Kathryn Hill as its new director, as current director Alison Bastian will be stepping down from the position in early August to prepare for the birth of her second child.

Until then, Bastian will work closely with Hill to ease the transition and to develop a shared strategy for the Arts Council moving forward, officials said in a news release.

Hill has been a resident of St. Charles for the last few years, although she now resides in North Aurora to be closer to her three grandchildren.

Prior to coming to the Tri-Cities area, she lived and worked in Mount Pleasant, MI, and spent 10 years as the director of Art Reach, a not-for-profit community arts organization created in 1981 with the purpose of keeping the arts and culture alive in the community.

Bastian said the SCAC shares a similar mission to Art Reach in supporting and promoting the arts and creativity.

“We’re thrilled to have found someone who comes from an organization with values we share and know that Kathy’s experience and talents will be a great asset to the Arts Council and our local community,” she said. “As the first director, I’ve tried to provide strong leadership for the SCAC and feel relieved that I’ll be leaving the organization in good hands.”

Hill said she is excited to head, once again, an arts organization focused on enriching the arts in the community.

“My interest in the arts goes back decades and my belief in the role that the arts play in providing a community with texture, value and improved quality of life is immovable,” she said. “I’m excited to use my arts management experience in this new position and look forward to working with local artists and community members to grow an awareness of the tremendous artistic resources that we have in our own back yard.”

About the St Charles Arts Council

The St Charles Arts Council is a 501(c)(3), registered not-for-profit Illinois corporation whose mission is to support and promote the arts and creativity, to the mutual benefit of the arts and the community. Contact the SCAC for information at 630.443.3794 or at info@StCharlesArtsCouncil.org.