Friends of EastHUB,
Happy New Year!
As EastHUB’s Board Chair and advocate for creating a unique cultural destination on the Eastside, I am writing to share some recent news regarding EastHUB’s leadership.
Ray Cullom, visionary Founder of EastHUB, imagined the organization that exists today based on the idea that “culture creates community.” As you may or may not know, Ray transitioned out of his role as CEO at the end of 2022. The board and staff remain committed to his vision and are pleased that he will remain involved as a volunteer and champion of EastHUB, especially regarding the Playhouse at Cloudvue project. We are grateful for Ray’s leadership over the last 2 ½ years and thank him for his work.
The board of directors and I are excited about the future of EastHUB as we embark on this period of transition to meet the evolving EastHUB and community needs. This opportunity will allow us to assess the skills, expertise, and approach needed from our next leader to continue to accelerate toward achieving our mission of providing vital support for the arts and culture ecosystem on the Eastside. The board sees this as an opportunity to determine what new opportunities exist within our work and what remains most relevant, critical, and timely for EastHUB’s future.
As we begin to plan for our search for a new Executive Director, we are welcoming Sue Coliton as our Interim Director to lead and assess the organizational needs during this transition period. Sue is a respected executive active in the national arts community, a reputation she built for 15 years leading the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation’s philanthropic programs, and enhanced with years of consulting for many arts organizations, recently serving as Interim CEO of ArtsFund and Washington Research Foundation. Sue’s skills and experience, along with her familiarity with the region’s cultural sector, make her the ideal person to oversee EastHUB during this interim period.
As we look to our shared future with a robust network of shared spaces, vital and efficient services, and knowledge-building resources, we hope you will reach out with any feedback or interest in joining in our work.
Thanks for championing arts and culture on the Eastside,
Chair, Board of Directors
