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Brian Felster
Programming Director
Brian came to the CAC in
the summer of 2005 as a resident artist in the mediums of photography, graphic
arts and web design. He initially volunteered his time and talents to establish
an interactive web presence for the CAC that has been instrumental in informing
both the public and the media of events at the facility, as well as informing
organizations that wish to use the facility what it has to offer.
Brian became the
Program Director of the facility in mid-September of 2005 and was immediately
put to the test with organizing the first Taste of the CAC, the signature
fundraiser for the organization. Brian brings a rich history in technical
theater, having trained in theatrical lighting at Macomb County Community
College in Michigan, and having worked numerous shows in both their black box
facility and main stage theaters in the capacity of lighting technician, flyman
and stage hand. Brian has also held the position of master lighting technician
for Llama Productions, a small but successful theater venue in the suburbs of
Detroit, MI. He also brings an 18 year history of management in a retail
situation and associated customer service skills. Brian has been avidly involved
in graphic arts and design work since the age of 12, an has relished the
versatility that computers have brought to the art form.
Brian’s duties as
Program Director include managing the four primary programs of the CAC. The
Residency Program, The Lois M. Nelson Theatre and Performing Arts Program, the
CAC Arts Education Program and the CAC Outreach Program.
Under the Residency
Program, Brian assists the CAC resident artists in planning and producing
exhibits within the facility, in organizing and presenting workshops geared
toward informing and educating the public within their field of artistic
expertise, in finding avenues to present their works outside of the facility,
assists them with information on marketing their artwork, and keeps them
informed of events within the facility which may benefit them.
Under the Lois M.
Nelson Theatre and Performing Arts Program, Brian is responsible for organizing
the smooth presentation of all events that pass through the facility, planning
and organization of events from 18 months out until the present date. These
events range in scale and format and include such venues as exhibitions,
presentations, installations, theatrical performances, concerts and readings. In
such, Brian is responsible for managing all personnel and properties involved in
the proper production of these events.
Under the CAC Arts
Education Program, Brian is responsible for scheduling programming such as
workshops in arts related fields that will benefit both the CAC resident artists
as well as the community at large. This also includes the implementation of a
summer program for local school age children to assist them in experiencing the
arts on a personal level.
Under the CAC
Outreach Program, Brian is responsible for identifying and making contact with
organizations which assist individuals and families who may not otherwise have
the means to experience the arts on a personal level and provide them with the
means through distribution of 10% of the available tickets for all events to
these organizations. This program also includes the organization and
implementation of programs such as the CAC Resident Artists On The Road, in
which CAC resident artists travel out to senior centers and schools to perform
and inform about the arts.
In his
downtime, Brian enjoys online gaming such as World of Warcraft and Vanguard, web
design, his primary art form photography, a good cup of coffee with great conversation, the fine art of cooking and the not so
fine art of eating.
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