PULLMAN, Wash. — Christopher Bruce, director of the Museum of Art at Washington State University and a member of numerous arts committees and consortia, has been appointed to the Washington State Arts Commission by Governor Gary Locke.
Bruce, who joined WSU last June, said the appointment provides an opportunity to help ensure fine arts interests in Eastern Washington receive representation on the state’s art-policy-setting commission.
“It gives those of us on this side of the state another voice,” he said. “I’ve been around art circles long enough now I know how important that type of advocacy can be. Whether its public sculpture or the performing arts, it means Pullman and WSU will have someone there.”
A veteran of the Puget Sound arts scene, Bruce is the former senior curator at Seattle’s Henry Art Gallery, where he worked for 15 years. He also served as director of the former Meyerson & Nowinski Gallery in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square and as director of curatorial and collections at Experience Music Project. While at Meyerson & Nowinski, Bruce served as president of Seattle Art Museum’s Contemporary Arts Council.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from San Diego State University and a master’s degree from San Jose State University.
The WSAC is a state agency charged with the growth and development of the arts statewide and is governed by 23 members, 19 of whom are appointed by the Governor and four legislators. The current commission is includes representatives of the arts and business communities and state agencies, as well as elected officials.
The commission annually awards approximately $3 million in grants and contracts to artists and arts organizations and adds about 125 artworks to the State Art Collection. It also initiates educational programs for students of all ages.
Also appointed to the WSAC last week were Monte Bridges, superintendent of the Puget Sound Educational Service District and a member of numerous national and statewide educational associations; Jean Mandeberg, a member of the faculty at the Evergreen State College in Olympia and a nationally renowned artist; and Stephen Sneed, manager of programming for Seattle Center Productions, and an actor, musician and producer.
