Submitted by Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth
Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth (BAAY) is delighted to announce that Ian Bivins has accepted the position of Executive Director, beginning June 1, 2016. Mr. Bivins will take the reins from founding Director David Post, who is stepping down to pursue new ventures in his home state of California.
A native of Helena, Montana, Bivins received a B.A. in Theater Arts from Western Washington University in 2002. He also holds a Professional Certification from Margolis Brown Adaptors Company, an internationally recognized theater education company based in Highland, New York. Since 2004, Bivins has taught classes, directed shows and appeared in productions everywhere from Bellingham to Barcelona. Locally he has been a frequent collaborator with the iDiOM Theater, Northwest Passage Theater Lab, and Kuntz and Company. In 2014, he co-founded On the Precipice Productions, a multi-media ensemble with a focus on creating original work. He has also served as a theater mentor at Lummi Youth Academy, as well as guest director and set designer at BAAY. Bivins brings a wealth of ideas, energy and enthusiasm, as well as a commitment to team-building and an abiding sense of the importance of arts education.
BAAY is looking forward to the future, building off the incredible culture of support and inspiration for every student that has been a hallmark of the organization since day one. “I believe the arts are not a luxury,” says Bivins, “but something that is simply fundamental to the human experience.” As Executive Director, Bivins says that he will be committed to sustainable growth and broadening the reach of BAAY’s stellar programming to provide arts education and resources throughout Whatcom county. “BAAY is not just about arts education, but also building community and teaching life skills in a safe and creative environment.”
