TELLURIDE – The Telluride Council for The Arts and Humanities has announced Kate Jones as its new executive director, who assumed the position July 15. Jones brings 20 years of experience in strategic arts management, most recently as the director of Methow Arts Alliance, a vibrant local arts agency in a small community in the North Cascades Mountains. There she was active in regional and statewide arts development, including a governor-appointed position with the Washington State Arts Commission from 2004 to 2010. “We feel very fortunate to have Kate at the helm,” said TCAH Board President Amy Boebel. “She’s going to be a great asset not only to TCAH but to the entire Telluride arts community.” With its new leadership TCAH plans explore opportunities to further coalesce and strengthen the local arts community. Established in 1971, TCAH’s role in the Telluride region is to cultivate a flourishing cultural environment through a variety of programs including artist fellowships and small grants, the Stronghouse Studios and Gallery, monthly Art Walks, the annual TAG Holiday Bazaar, and other programs that support the making and appreciation of art.

Informational Granting Workshop for Nonprofits Tuesday, Aug. 3

TELLURIDE – Telluride region funding agencies will offer an “All About Grants” Information Session on local funding opportunities Tuesday, Aug. 3, 9:30 - 11 a.m., at Wilkinson Public Library. Organizers include the Telluride Foundation, Town of Mountain Village, Mountain Village Owners Association, San Miguel County, Telluride’s Commission for Community Assistance, Arts & Special Events, Just for Kids Foundation and the Telluride Council for the Arts and Humanities. Topics to be covered include: the preparation and submission of local grant applications; policies and guidelines pertaining to grants; changes to programs and submission deadlines; and the application process.  This informational session is not meant to replace future seminars, where grant funders will explain their applications and processes in more detail. Residents and community groups are encouraged to attend this free event to make sure they are fully equipped to prepare grant applications and understand the difference between all the local grant opportunities; it is open to the public and no registration is required.  Please contact April at the Telluride Foundation at 728-8717 or Nina Kothe with the San Miguel County Commissioners office, 728-3844, for more information.

Corbell Switzer PR Agency Now Corbell Switzer Meek

MONTROSE – The Corbell Switzer Agency public relations firm has expanded its operations, adding new partner Yvonne Meek and an entertainment and arts division to the firm this month. “Most people know Yvonne as a great singer and musician, but she also happens to be an excellent planner and publicist,” CSM partner Caitlin Switzer said. “Beverly Corbell and I are very excited to have her join us, and bring her energy, enthusiasm and amazing promotional skills to the agency we created last year.”

Meek, a longtime professional musician and community volunteer, currently helps lead the Main in Motion board, and provides leadership and support to numerous other civic and professional organizations as well. She will work with clients in the areas of arts, entertainment and event promotion, and will offer social networking seminars for business marketers at Region 10 beginning in August.

To learn more, contact her at 970/208-2456, or email her at whymeek@gmail.com. For Beverly Corbell, call 970-417-0117, and for Caitlin Switzer call 970-275-5791. Corbell Switzer Meek has offices at the Region 10 Enterprise Center, 300 North Cascade Avenue, Suite G-2, Montrose.

Artists Sought for PAX 2010 Quickdraw

MONTROSE — Public Art eXperience is planning a “Quickdraw” fundraiser in conjunction with its Fifth Annual Sculpture Exhibit and Gala Event on Friday, Aug. 27. Visual artists will be at work, in Centennial Plaza, to create pieces that will be auctioned off later that evening. Artists and volunteers interested in taking part should contact PAX Committee Chair Carolyn Bellavance at 970-240-8250.

PAX is a subcommittee of the Montrose Association of Commerce & Tourism in partnership with the City of Montrose, and has contributed $35,600 worth of sculptures to the city’s permanent sculpture collection to date. All works of sculpture on loan through PAX are offered for sale to the public. Major PAX Sponsors for 2009/2010 include the City of Montrose, Four Seasons Investment Advisors, Montrose Association of Commerce & Tourism (MACT), Montrose Daily Press, Mountain Valley Fish and Oyster, Inc., Megapixel Digital Imaging and Around the Corner Art Gallery. To learn more about PAX, visit the web site at www.cityofmontrose.org/art.

MMH M.D. Robert Kilbourn Clinical Professor at UC, Denver School of Medicine

MONTROSE – Robert Kilbourn, M.D., FACP, has been promoted to a Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine/Medical Oncology in the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado, Denver.  Dr. Kilbourn is a Board Certified, Oncologist on the active Medical Staff at the San Juan Cancer Center at Montrose Memorial Hospital. His responsibilities include mentoring, teaching, and supervising students, as well as demonstrating skills to physicians in training. Qualifications for the position are a minimum of six years experience as an Associate Professor, evidence of outstanding contribution to the Department of Medicine, and being an outstanding teacher and professional role model. Other criteria considered were service on committees, attendance at conferences, and support of the University's Department of Medicine's academic mission.

“This appointment as an opportunity to strengthen the ties that the San Juan Cancer Center has with the University of Colorado,” Kilbourne said. “I am already involved with the University's oncology clinical trials program here in Montrose and look forward to spending time at the university to fulfill my other professorship duties and to establish new ties with other university physicians and professors.”