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Steamboat Springs — Nancy Kramer has worked her last day as the executive director of Steamboat Springs Arts Council.

Jennifer Jones has been named the interim director until the Arts Council's board of directors finds a new director. Kramer's last day was Dec. 29.

"We have a lot of confidence in Jenn and Beth Banning and the staff there, so we feel we can manage for a while without an executive director," said board member Laurie Good. "We are taking our time to find the right candidate with the qualities we find important."

There are three criteria the board does not want to deviate from.

"The first is the passion and knowledge for the arts," Good said. "We need somebody who can speak art and in essence understand art and humanities' influence on culture and community."

The second skill set is grant-writing and fundraising.

"We also want a person with business acumen and people management skills," Good said. "Someone who can build interpersonal relationships and at the same time know how to run a business."

The board understands that a nonprofit budget can limit options.

"The financial position of the organization can't afford what we'd really like to have," Good said. "There's that balance of what you desire in top qualities and what a nonprofit can afford, and we will continue until we find a candidate who fits that balance."

The Arts Council is soliciting new board members.

Board members who have experience with grant writing are sought.

"One of our goals is the increased programming around education, so we are looking for people who may have an interest or expertise in that," Good said. "And we would like to get some board members who have business expertise and attributes so they can help us build the strategic plan."

Anyone who is interested in becoming a board member should contact board president Katy Kriz at 291-9229.

Many of the other goals for 2007, which is the Arts Council's 35th year, will be discussed at the Arts Council's annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Depot Art Center.

"It is open to the public to anyone who wants to find out what the Arts Council has been up to and what we have to look forward to," Jones said.

From 4 to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25, the Arts Council will officially honor Kramer during an open house.

Kramer will stay involved in the organization and remain in the community.

"I think Kramer's spirit will always be around here," Jones said. "She has done a lot of things in her 13 years as director."

- To reach Allison Plean, call 871-4204

or e-mail aplean@steamboatpilot.com