GreenHill Center for North Carolina Art is pleased to announce that Barbara Richter has been named Executive Director effective August 1, 2019.

Richter most recently served as President of her own consulting practice in Cleveland, Ohio and has led strategic initiatives across multiple industries, government entities, and on behalf of non-profit organizations. 

“I’m confident that Barbara’s leadership, broad perspective, and innovative thinking will help grow GreenHill’s visibility in North Carolina’s visual arts’ community” said GreenHill Chair, Bert Davis, Jr. “She will work closely with me and our Board of Directors to build upon our strong legacy and refine our vision for the future. Barbara’s non-profit focus has largely been with arts organizations undergoing transformational change. We are thrilled to have her join GreenHill at such a crucial moment in our history.”

“I am deeply honored to be selected as the next Executive Director of GreenHill,” said Richter.  “As the only organization dedicated exclusively to advocacy on behalf of North Carolina art and artists, GreenHill elevates and inspires through education, exhibitions, and programming and serves as a gateway to our state’s vibrant creative community.  In preparation for GreenHill’s 50^th anniversary, I’m excited to expand the organization’s impact further together with the Board, our dedicated staff, funders and community partners.” 

Richter’s arts management experience includes roles as Director of Strategic Planning for Ingenuity Cleveland, an annual festival for the arts, science and technology drawing 40,000 visitors, and Chair of the Spectrum campaign to commemorate the Cleveland Institute of Art’s newly constructed campus.  

Linda Spitsen, Chair of the GreenHill Search Committee, commented, “Barbara’s diverse experiences showcase her effectiveness in strategic messaging, audience cultivation, fundraising, and community-wide partnership building. These skills are paramount to GreenHill’s future.”

On behalf of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, based in Washington, DC, Richter created outreach and community partnerships in Philadelphia and Cleveland to expand the footprint of the museum, increase brand awareness, boost membership and generate funding.  In this capacity, she also launched and managed the Ohio Advisory Group (OAG), a non-profit affiliate of the National Women’s Museum which extends the museum’s mission through state-wide programming and exhibitions.  Over the past five years, the OAG earned the support of prestigious entities such as National Public Radio, the Ohio Arts Council, and the Cleveland Foundation, in addition to building successful partnerships with many of Ohio’s premier universities and museums. 

Earlier in her career, Richter spearheaded communications and corporate citizenship strategies for BMW in North America. Her responsibilities encompassed philanthropy, public relations, and investor outreach. Supported by the Council on Foreign Relations and informed by her work for Germany’s leading television networks, she also provided strategic counseling to the US Department of State on German foreign policy.

A graduate of Boston College with a BA in Germanic Studies, Richter earned an MSFS at Georgetown University and a PhD in Political Science at the University of Cologne.  She and her husband, Lutz, moved to Greensboro this past year from Cleveland.  Their daughter, Kimberly, and son, Philipp, are currently enrolled in universities and working in London. 

ABOUT GREENHILL

GreenHill, located in downtown Greensboro, is a nonprofit visual art center with the vital mission to support and advocate for the art and artists of North Carolina. At GreenHill, professional artists have meaningful opportunities throughout their careers to participate in a wide range of exhibitions. Artists receive economic support through the sale of their art in GreenHill’s renowned galleries. Novice artists, from toddlers and young students to life-long learners, can stretch their creative muscles through GreenHill’s studio-based educational programs. Serving over 1 million visitors since 1974, GreenHill Center for North Carolina Art is a vibrant, cultural cornerstone in the state’s creative community.