The Center for Arts Education Announces New Executive Director

The Board of Directors of The Center for Arts Education has announced that Eric G. Pryor has been named Executive Director. Mr. Pryor will lead the organization in its efforts to ensure that every New York City public school student has access to a quality arts education. Pryor is a seasoned arts executive who has provided leadership and advocacy for nonprofit arts organizations for more than fifteen years, with extensive experience in the development of multidisciplinary arts programming, education and curatorial programs.
 
Board Chair Jill E. Braufman said, "The Board of Directors looks forward to working with Eric.  He will be an effective leader of CAE and a passionate advocate for arts education who will inspire the students, educators, parents, elected officials and the other organizations with whom we partner. "
 
Pryor replaces Richard Kessler who left CAE in August to become Dean of Mannes College the New School for Music.
 
Before joining CAE, Pryor served as the Executive Director of the New Jersey State Museum where he successfully revitalized the institution with the re-opening of three major galleries, the Planetarium in 2009, and the Cultural History Collection gallery and the Fine Art Collection Gallery in 2010.
 
Pryor adds, “I am extremely excited about joining the team at The Center for Arts Education. The work that is being done to help bring the arts to the children in New York City public schools is essential to their personal growth and academic success, and to the future success of our city.
 
He also served as president of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey  (VAC) where he developed and implemented a five-year strategic plan built around a $5.4 million capital campaign that more than doubled the space of the facility, providing three new exhibition spaces and nine state-of-the-art studios. He also led the expansion of VAC's education outreach partnerships with various schools and organizations, reaching over 1,300 students annually.
 
He began his arts career as Executive Director of the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation’s Center for Arts and Culture (CAC) in Brooklyn; overseeing programs including the Skylight Gallery, the Performing Arts/Presenting Program, the Playwrights Den, and the Restoration Youth Arts Academy.
 
Pryor is a graduate of Tyler School of Art, Temple University (MFA), Wayne State University (BFA, Painting), and Columbia University Graduate School of Business (Executive Program, MBA). He is a board member of the Mid Atlantic Association of Museums and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.
 
He lives in West Orange, New Jersey with his wife and two young daughters.