Last modified: Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Walker assumes new role as Director of Arts and Cultural Outreach at IUB
On the heels of the most successful "Arts Week" ever at Indiana University Bloomington, Associate Dean of the Faculties Kim Walker has begun tackling the challenges of her newly created position as Director of Arts and Cultural Outreach (Office of the President).
In her new role, Walker, who also is a professor of bassoon in the IU School of Music as well as the lead coordinator of the annual town-and-gown Arts Week celebration, will seek to raise the level of visibility of IU's excellence in the arts and humanities across Indiana and nationwide.
The idea for a new arts and cultural outreach position grew out of recommendations made by IU's Arts and Humanities Task Force and a system-wide discussion of the arts and humanities conducted last year with former IU President Myles Brand, Walker said. She has already embarked on a three-year plan to support the mission of the Arts and Humanities Task Force, which recommended that the university build on its excellence in the arts and humanities, promote the arts to those outside the university, and redefine the traditional "well-rounded" education for the 21st century.
"IU has always had a strong commitment to the arts and humanities," Walker said. "They are a source of vibrancy, creativity and talent. What we need to do now is identify and exploit those strengths. If we do things the right way, we are primed to become the leading university for the arts and humanities in the United States and certainly in the Midwest."
While she will be based in Bloomington, Walker plans to visit the university's regional campuses over the next several months and meet with key administrators, faculty and staff in order to clarify and differentiate their individual strengths in the arts and humanities. Additionally, she hopes to open a dialogue with faculty and staff on the Bloomington campus, as well as with city and state government leaders and the various arts and cultural tourism groups throughout the state that she believes can help advance the university's vision of the future.
An internationally acclaimed woodwind performer and a celebrated recording artist, Walker has toured worldwide as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher.
Since 1994, Walker has been professor of music at the IU School of Music, serving as chair of the Woodwind Department from 1996 to 2000. In 2000, she served as artistic director of the IU Summer Music Festival and was named associate dean of the faculties (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculties) at IUB. As associate dean she has coordinated and managed Arts Week, an annual series of performances, lectures and exhibits on the Bloomington campus and in the surrounding community. Arts Week has developed into a highly successful winter event that continues to grow in attendance and revenue.
Walker can be reached at 812-855-0230 or kimwalke@indiana.edu.
