Hunter joins IX Art Park board

What’s the best was to become a part of a new community? Join a nonprofit board and start giving back.

That’s what Anne Hunter, founder of HunterSage for Nonprofits, did in Charlottesville, Virginia. She recently joined the board of IX Art Park, a five-year-old nonprofit that’s all about “possibility and the power of collective creativity.”

Located in a donated warehouse in the center of Charlottesville, IX (pronounced “icks”) is both an interactive space and a movement for common good. Executive Director Susan Krischel describes its programming as “eclectic, unexpected and grassroots.” Judging by its extensive calendar and flexible space, IX is a welcome venue for established and emerging artists across a wide range of art forms, including performing, visual and literary.

Krischel envisions IX Art Park as a cultural magnet in Virginia which provides a new model for community building and the role of private entities in creating civic infrastructure. By all accounts, the plan is working. IX already is transforming the neighborhood and the way the community engages in art.

Hunter’s board role will be to bring best and next practices in nonprofit management to the fast-growing organization. “Its dual focus on making art and building community fits perfectly with my passions and skill set,” she says.

IX Art Park is a 501(c) nonprofit located at 522 2nd Street SE in Charlottesville. Admission is free and the outdoor park is open dawn to dusk, seven days a week.