SGCI 2018 VEGAS
 
Site Specific Award: Excellence in Arts Administration

SUSAN BOSKOFF

 

As Nevada Arts Council executive director for nearly 25 years, Susan Boskoff deepened agency resources and assets—animating communities and grassroots advocacy; supporting Nevada’s expansive cultural industry and local economic diversification; and advancing lifelong learning initiatives. During her tenure, numerous agency programs were expanded or launched, including Artist Fellowships, Poetry Out Loud, Nevada Touring Initiative, Arts @ the Heart Conference and Nevada Circuit Riders. She established the Las Vegas office in 1998, locating staff in both the state capital and largest population center; guided agency restructuring to serve a diverse and growing constituency; and initiated a statewide participatory planning process. Upon retirement in spring 2017, Boskoff received the Nevada Arts & Humanities Award for Public Service, presented by Nevada Humanities and Nevada Arts Council.

 

Before moving to Nevada, Boskoff was director of Salt Lake City’s Performing Arts Coalition and Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center capital campaign manager, and established Salt Lake County’s Public Art Program. For 11 years prior, she served as the Utah Arts Council Community/State Partnership Program coordinator.

 

A former trustee of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Western Arts Alliance, Western States Arts Federation and Utah Arts Advocates, among others, Boskoff currently serves on various boards including Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, KNPB/Channel 5, NoteAbles Music Therapy and Utah Repertory Dance Theatre. 

 

Boskoff has worked with an array of clients as a consultant, including Sierra Nevada Ballet, Poetry Foundation, Writers at Work, Americans for the Arts, Nevada Museums Association, Black Rock Design Institute, Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits and independent artists. She continues her work with Nevada Public Works and Department of Veterans Services on the Battleborn Memorial to Nevada’s Fallen Warriors initiative.

 

A Maryland native, Boskoff earned her BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Communications Arts, with a radio, television and film emphasis.