The Arts Council for Long Beach is pleased to announce the appointment of Griselda Suárez as its new executive director. The Arts Council board of directors is confident Suárez will be an excellent leader for the organization and strong advocate for Long Beach arts.
A creative writer who also practices culinary arts, Suárez is a lecturer of Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies at California State University Long Beach, where she teaches literature, art history, cultural studies and writing.
She is heavily involved in the Long Beach community, including with Latinos in Action, LB Fresh, Teatro Jornalero, Three Sisters Garden of Orizaba Park, Project Plateful, IDEAFEST LB and Leadership Long Beach. Most recently, Suárez lectured at the Museum for Latin American Art, and in spring, she will participate in Sister Spit LB and Long Beach Zine Fest. As business owner, she counts Peppered Up Foods and Sliced and Diced Eatery among her ventures.
“It is an honor to be chosen as the new executive director of the Arts Council for Long Beach,” Suárez said. “Not only do I look forward to championing the arts, but I also welcome artists and residents to engage the arts in all parts of their lives so that we can become a city of art advocates.”
Suárez will begin on March 1, and current executive director, Victoria Bryan, will stay on board through the transition. Bryan will also remain involved in the organization as a volunteer and passionate Long Beach arts advocate.
Arts Council President Marco Schindelmann said, “Griselda’s appointment comes at a very exciting time for the Arts Council. Her background as artist, advocate, activist, teacher and leader positions her perfectly to help move us forward towards our future vision in which arts and culture play a vital role throughout our dynamic and innovative city.”