Art Reach Director Hunt finishes final days on the job

Art Reach of Mid Michigan Director Kathy Hunt is leaving after 22 years
of service.

Hunt announced her resignation after her husband, Tom, received a
position as director of a public radio station at Bradley University in
Peoria, Ill. Her last day was Friday.

“I will miss a friend I have known over 20 years who cares, really
cares, about our community and the arts and what Art Reach has done,”
said Nedra Fisher, an Art Reach Board of Directors member.

Fisher said Hunt has been with Art Reach since they were on the
ground floor.

“What she has done is amazing,” Fisher said. “We have developed from
a small community art center to a much larger center with a
full-fledged gift shop.”

But Hunt didn’t see these changes as just her own.

“There are so many volunteers involved in planning our programs and
carrying things out and I feel uncomfortable taking sole credit for
things Art Reach has accomplished while I’ve been here,” Hunt said. “I
feel like I am the coordinator pulling the volunteer groups together.”

While Hunt has been at Art Reach, she helped create many programs
like the Art Reach on Broadway Gallery and Gift Shop, 111 E. Broadway
St.

Hunt said the gallery provides an outlet for area and regional
artists to display their art, the Chamber Music Series and Jazz at the
Library.

Fisher said one of the biggest projects Hunt has helped create is
the Art Reach Picture Program, which Fisher said now reaches 10,000
children in the area from Gladwin to Ithaca.

Hunt said she will miss most the people she has met through Art
Reach.

“I feel so fortunate to have had a job that allowed me to meet so
many people in the community,” Hunt said.

Katie Showers, Art Reach secretary, said Hunt’s absence will not go
unnoticed.

“I honestly believe that people do not realize how much she does for
Art Reach and the community in general, and this will be apparent when
she leaves,” SHE SAID.

Fisher said they are looking for a new director with accounting,
managerial, development and fund-raising skills. But, Fisher said if he
or she is half as caring and dedicated as Hunt has been, Fisher would
feel blessed.

“I’m sure we’ll find someone who will work well,” Fisher said. “But,
she has done so much for the last 20 years that it is hard to imagine
that someone will come along.”

Hunt said she is looking forward to getting to know the Peoria
community.

Between the opera, symphony and ballet, Hunt said she has a lot of
opportunities to get involved in a variety of arts.

“They have a very strong arts community,” she said.