Ohio State appoints Cathy Predmore executive director of the Wexner Center for the Arts

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Ohio State appoints Cathy Predmore executive director of the Wexner Center for the Arts

Predmore brings deep expertise in strategic planning, operational management, communications, fundraising and community engagement

The Ohio State University has named Cathy (Cat) Predmore to serve as executive director of the Wexner Center for the Arts, effective Nov. 1.

Predmore has served as interim director of the Wexner Center while concurrently managing her duties as head of marketing and communications.

"During her interim tenure, Cat has offered exceptionally clear and steady guidance, establishing the center's strategic direction and fostering creative autonomy across the institution," said Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Trevor Brown. "Her leadership has empowered staff members to advance the center's core mission and maintained the Wexner Center's standing as an international destination for contemporary art at The Ohio State University and Columbus."

A transformational leader and effective communicator with more than three decades of executive experience, Predmore is exceptionally equipped to lead the Wexner Center into its next chapter. She brings deep expertise in strategic planning, operational management and financial stewardship, alongside a stellar track record of designing high-impact fundraising strategies and community engagement initiatives for major national and international nonprofits.

Predmore will empower and elevate the center's deep bench of renowned curatorial talent, while ensuring the Wex has the stable financial foundation that is critical to the success of any arts organization.

"A resource for the culturally curious, the Wexner Center holds a distinctive position both within Ohio State and across the Columbus arts community. Leading this center and working alongside a passionate, talented team devoted to advancing contemporary art is a profound honor," Predmore said. "Looking ahead, I am excited to capitalize on our recent momentum - a year in which we maintained our cutting-edge programming, fortified our foundation and recommitted to our core mission, continuing our legacy as a local and global hub for contemporary artists."

Before joining the Wexner Center, Predmore served as senior vice president at national communications agency Fahlgren Mortine, where she spearheaded strategic planning and integrated marketing and communications programs for U.S.-based museums, arts and science institutions, and universities. She consistently excels at building strong brands, growing a membership base, boosting attendance and exceeding revenue goals.

Her large-scale economic development work in states including Ohio, home of the Wex, underscores her understanding of the vital connections between higher education, community partners and the arts.

Predmore has earned numerous national recognitions, including awards for best charitable giving campaigns and corporate partnerships, national and central Ohio PRism Awards, MarCom Awards, Communicator Awards, the PRWeek Award and Best Brand Awards. She has also served on boards for the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center and CATCO (now The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio).

The Wexner Center is an important part of the university and a vital resource to the broader cultural community. The center is a multidisciplinary laboratory for the exploration of contemporary art.

Through exhibitions, performances, screenings, artist residencies and learning programs, the Wexner Center serves as a forum where established and emerging artists from around the world can test ideas and where audiences can participate in cultural experiences that enhance their understanding of the art of our time.

The Wexner Center presents and commissions innovative artistic work and enriches the community by promoting curiosity, understanding and civic discourse.

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