A message from Jess Peña, Fairbanks Arts Association’s Executive Director:

After 14 years at Fairbanks Arts, I am beginning to plan for what comes next for both Fairbanks Arts and me. This fall, I am beginning the process of stepping down as Executive Director and welcoming the next person who will steward Fairbanks Arts into its next chapter. My last day will be January 31, 2027.

Founded in 1966 as the Alaska Association for the Arts, the organization has spent 60 years building and sustaining the arts in Interior Alaska, growing and changing alongside the community it serves. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been part of that history and to have had the opportunity to help carry this organization and its mission forward.

When I joined Fairbanks Arts in 2012, I was a young artist and educator beginning my career in community arts. Fourteen years later, it is hard to imagine my professional life without Fairbanks Arts at its center. I have had the privilege of serving in several roles over the years, becoming Executive Director in 2016, and learning from countless artists, educators, volunteers, board members, staff, partners, and community members along the way.

I am incredibly proud of the work Fairbanks Arts has done during my tenure and grateful for the people who have made that work possible. As Fairbanks Arts celebrates 60 years of serving Interior Alaska, it feels particularly meaningful to be part of this moment of reflection and change.

Between now and January, I will remain fully engaged in the work and am looking forward to these next few months with the people who have made Fairbanks Arts such a meaningful part of my life. The search for the next Executive Director is now underway, and I invite you to learn more about the position and the opportunity to lead Fairbanks Arts into the future. You can find the full listing and application details at Foraker’s job listings.

There will be plenty more to say as the time gets closer, but for now, I am grateful to be able to share this news and to continue this work together.