Steven Galatro
The board of trustees at Pratt Fine Arts Center, a multidisciplinary arts education center in Seattle, has just announced the appointment of a new executive director. Steven Galatro will be replacing executive director Michelle Buffano who left the non-profit in February for a position at Chihuly Garden and Glass. Pratt has reached outside their team to fill Buffano’s vacant position. Galatro’s previous managing positions include Operations Manager at the Seattle University’s Fine Arts Department and Seattle’s Empty Space Theatre.
Pratt is looking to Galatro to invigorate the institution in a bunch of areas that currently are lacking. “Steve is absolutely the right person at exactly the right time,” said Pratt Fine Arts Center board president Richard Wortley in a prepared statement. “He’s got great range in critical areas that need attention at Pratt right now. His success in marketing, development, and general management in donor-dependent non-profits delivers just the skill-set we’d hoped to find.”
Speaking on behalf of the board Wortley also noted Galatro is meant to bring focus to the goal of creating a true campus and visual arts resource for the Northwest .
Galatro said in a prepared statement, “I’m very excited to be joining Pratt during a time of great challenge and equally great possibility.” “Pratt has a solid foundation in Seattle, provides a totally unique service to the arts community, and has many, many loyal and generous supporters. With increased efficiency and stronger systems in place, we can leverage those positives to make Pratt more sustainable and enhance our ongoing service of the arts in our community.” Galatro will officially begin fulfilling his duties as executive director on May 1, 2012.
—Suzann Caputo