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AOY Art Center appoints first executive director

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The AOY Art Center board of directors announced that Bette Sovinee has been named the first executive director for AOY Art Center.

In this position, she will oversee a variety of areas for the organization, including daily operations, shows and events, grants and fundraising, policies and procedures, and communications.

Sovinee joined AOY Art Center, 949 Mirror Lake Road, Yardley (Lower Makefield Township), in the fall of 2013 as the facilities coordinator, following her retirement from the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection after 33 years of public service.

“Bette is an invaluable asset to our organization,” said AOY board member Richard Fekete, owner of Countryside Gallery in Newtown and AOY exhibition/shows and events chair. “These past few years as a board Committee Chair, I have grown to rely on Bette’s expertise and insight to accomplish our community objectives and outreach targets. I am excited for the future.”

“Bette’s impact on AOY is unmistakable,” said AOY board member Grant Cohen. “She has served the organization in all facets and delivered incredible results. Her demeanor, expertise and energy will suit her in the role of AOY’s first executive director. I personally couldn’t be more excited about our trajectory with Bette’s leadership.”

Said Sovinee, “My thanks to the AOY board for recognizing my contributions over the past nine years with this promotion. I look forward to continuing to work together with the board, staff, and instructors to serve our members and the greater Yardley community and to continue to advance AOY’s mission and goals.”

Sovinee holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from The Pennsylvania State University, and she also earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning from Rutgers University.

AOY Art Center is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting arts education in the community and to supporting local artists and artisans. It has been located in the historic Janney-Brown House on the Patterson Farm in Lower Makefield since 2010. AOY fulfills its mission through art classes and workshops for adults and youth, as well as summer camps, and also conducts art exhibitions throughout the year. For information, visit aoyarts.org.


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