SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A former leader of the arts community in Denver has been appointed as executive director of San Diego's Arts and Culture Commission, Mayor Bob Filner announced Wednesday.
Denise Montgomery will succeed Victoria Hamilton, who stepped down last November from the agency that provides funding to local arts groups.
Montgomery was the director of the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs from 2003-06.
She was the director of communications and marketing for the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego from 2006 to 2009. This year, she began teaching graduate-level courses in nonprofit marketing and communications at the University of San Diego.
Filner said this was one of the most important appointments he will make as mayor.
"A great city has great art and culture, and great art and culture needs a great arts and culture commission,'' Filner said. "We talked about giving her and the commission more support, from our city and from our region.''
He said he was impressed by her experience and vision for the future.
Montgomery said the Civic Center Plaza can be "enlivened'' with arts events. She also said she believes in collaboration with arts groups in Tijuana.
"I'm driven by the belief that everyone deserves to have art in the lives -- people of all ages and all walks of life,'' Montgomery said.
She said Denver's national reputation as an arts center grew while she was there, improving the quality of life for residents and the economy.
