Bryan W. Knicely
President
As GCAC's President, Bryan W. Knicely engages in cultural and civic planning and works closely with the City of Columbus, Experience Columbus, and other local partners to research and execute projects and programs related to the arts. He plays a key role in shaping GCAC’s strategic objectives, broadening and strengthening arts funding sources, improving the agency’s operational and financial effectiveness, building resources for the arts and articulating the vision of GCAC and the value of the arts to a broad range of local, regional and national constituents.
Knicely brings strong financial management experience, managerial skills, a broad exposure to cultural affairs and a passion for the arts to his position as President. In his first year at GCAC, Knicely has worked to create a strategic plan for the agency and has developed and implemented an effective public relations and outreach program. Knicely is resposible for expanding and diversifying the funding base to support GCAC’s strategic plan, and he continues to work proactively to help create a larger strategic vision for the arts and culture that unites and strengthens the Columbus community.
Prior to joining GCAC, Knicely served as the Assistant Director and Accessibility Coordinator of the Maine Arts Commission. During his tenure at the Maine Arts Commission, which included nine months as the agency's Acting Director, Knicely received two awards from the governor for outstanding leadership and service, as well as two awards for his marketing and branding campaigns. Knicely was appointed to a planning committee to assist in the development of the REALIZE! Maine Youth Summit on youth migration and served on two post-Summit standing committees. Additionally, he was involved with a statewide conference on Maine's creative economy. In addition to maintaining all accessibility policies and features for the Maine Arts Commission, Knicely directed the agency's international programs and participated in related arts and cultural responsibilities, including trade missions to France and a partnership exchange with Aomori, Japan. Further, Knicely served as a cultural ambassador to Cuba for the New England Foundation for the Arts' cultural mission in conjunction with Havana's Eighth Bienal de la Habana.
Knicely has developed many national connections through his work with the National Endowment for the Arts. He hosted NEA Chairman Dana Gioia on a comprehensive two-day tour of Maine's arts and cultural assets. Knicely also served as a panelist on the NEA's 2006 State Arts Agencies Partnership Agreement peer-review process. In addition to the NEA, Knicely has worked with the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and presented at two if its national conferences, as well as playing an active role with Americans for the Arts as an Arts Action Fund Member. Knicely is currently a board member for both the Ohio Citizens for the Arts and the Columbus AIDS Task Force, and he is a member of the nominations committee for the Columbus Metropolitan Club.
Knicely graduated from Otterbein College with a Bachelor of Science in management and marketing. In 1996, he received his Master of Arts in arts policy and administration from The Ohio State University, becoming the first graduate of that degreed program. Knicely also attended the Harvard Business School's Performance Measurements for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organizations continuing education program in 2005.
Prior to joining the Maine Arts Commission, Knicely was Chief Financial Officer at Saint Louis Effort for AIDS and Business Manager at the renowned Laumeier Sculpture Park and Museum. He worked as the Marketing Director for The Palace Theatre in Marion and as Special Projects and Development Coordinator for BalletMet Columbus before moving to Saint Louis.
E-mail: president@gcac.org
