County Executive Names Mark Fraire Cultural Affairs Director
March 24, 2014
Casey Slaughter Becker, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 843-8858
County Executive
Fraire Brings Nearly 25 Years of Professional Arts Administration, Lifetime of Arts Appreciation to the Role
Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced today that he has selected Mark Fraire to serve as the Director of the Dane County Cultural Affairs Program. Fraire brings nearly 25 years of professional arts administration and a lifetime of arts appreciation to the role.
“I’m looking forward to working with Mark Fraire as we continue the county’s mission to strengthen our arts and culture communities and our robust arts and culture economy,” said Parisi. “Mark’s personal dedication to the arts, coupled with his extensive professional background, will serve the Cultural Affairs Program well.”
Fraire joins the county from the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), where he served as Grants and Fund Development Coordinator. Prior to that position, Fraire worked for the Wisconsin Arts Board for 17 years as their Grants Programs and Community Services Specialist, responsible for coordinating annual grant programs that distributed over $400,000 annually state wide.
Fraire was a Ford Fellow for emerging minority arts managers, and created and directed the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s Community Education Department. Fraire has also led projects in urban and rural areas to increase community exposure to the arts, has engaged culturally diverse communities through numerous arts education programs, and has worked with countless artists and organizations throughout Wisconsin, the Midwest, and nationally.
“Arts and culture has always been an arena in which I felt energized, creative, and of value. As the youngest of six children, my parents enveloped our world in arts, education, and community giving. As an adult, I’ve been proud to have a career in the arts,” said Fraire. “I’m looking forward to putting that extensive life and professional experience to work for Dane County and its arts and culture community.”
Fraire’s experience has also included serving on a number of community boards, most recently the Overture Center Foundation Board, Centro Hispano and as a presenter for the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, the Association of American Cultures, and Americans for the Arts.
Fraire will begin his tenure as Cultural Affairs Director on April 7th.
The County Executive also thanked Interim Cultural Affairs Director Pam Andros for her service to the Cultural Affairs Program. Andros served as Interim Director since August of 2012.