The Berkeley Art Center has named a new executive director to guide the organization through significant financial challenges that forced the departure of its previous co-directors late last year. Oakland-based Latino artist Gisela Insuaste has been appointed to lead the nearly 60-year-old nonprofit arts institution as it works to achieve fiscal stability and sustainable operations.

Insuaste brings nearly two decades of experience in Bay Area arts programming to her new role. She previously served as education and public programs director at the Kala Art Institute, a Berkeley-based gallery that provides arts fellowships and public programming. Her appointment marks a transition from the organization's previous co-director structure to a single executive leadership model, a change made necessary by budget constraints.

The leadership changes began when co-directors Kim Acebo Arteche and Elena Gross stepped down from their positions late last year. According to both Insuaste and the organization's board, these departures were primarily driven by financial difficulties that made maintaining two executive positions unsustainable. Currently, Insuaste and a gallery manager are the only two employees at the Berkeley Art Center.

"Despite the financial difficulties, we all realize it is important to still be visible and present," Insuaste told local media. "Art is a tool for social change and an opportunity for healing, for cultivating creativity, and for intergenerational and cultural connections." Her vision for the organization emphasizes continuing the work of her predecessors while building a more sustainable financial foundation.

Board President Kerri Hurtado expressed confidence in the organization's ability to weather this challenging period. "We pride ourselves on being nimble and being able to pivot in hard times," she said. The center plans to maintain its commitment to free programming while exploring new revenue streams, including space rentals and professional development workshops for artists.

Insuaste's background reflects a deep commitment to community-centered arts programming. Born to Ecuadorian immigrant parents, she grew up in a Latino neighborhood in New York City, where she first witnessed art's power to connect communities. Originally a pre-med student in college, she changed course after realizing "there are other ways of helping people. There are other ways of being of service."

Throughout her career, Insuaste has focused primarily on working with BIPOC arts communities across Chicago, Washington D.C., and New York, balancing roles as both an artist and arts administrator. She became familiar with Berkeley's art scene in 2019 when she joined the Kala Art Institute, building connections that eventually led to her current position.

The new director has ambitious plans for expanding the center's reach and impact. She aims to foster more artistic experimentation in exhibitions and programming while leveraging the center's unique location in Live Oak Park. Plans include hosting art workshops to attract families visiting the park and developing programs specifically designed for emerging and local artists.

"It's a small place, but it's had a big impact on artists and careers," Insuaste said. "I want to continue to be that place where you get your first exhibition or maybe you have a mid-career retrospective." She particularly values the center's track record of producing inclusive programming for BIPOC communities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

The Berkeley Art Center's financial struggles reflect broader challenges facing arts organizations throughout the Bay Area and across the country. The lingering effects of the pandemic have created budget shortfalls for numerous cultural institutions. Recent casualties include Aurora Theatre, which suspended its upcoming season, and several organizations that have closed entirely, including Bay Area Children's Theater, TheatreFirst, and California Jazz Conservatory's degree program.

Additionally, recent federal policy changes have added to the financial pressure. The reduction of National Endowment for the Arts grants and shifts in funding priorities toward projects related to American heritage and the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence have left many local arts organizations, including Berkeley Rep, scrambling for alternative funding sources.

The Berkeley Art Center operates on an annual budget of approximately $400,000, according to the director job description posted earlier this year. Revenue comes from a diverse mix of sources, including city funding, foundation awards, private donations, paid memberships, and ticketed events. Major supporters include the city of Berkeley, the California Arts Council, the Walter and Ellis Haas Fund, the East Bay Community Foundation, and the Alameda County Arts Commission.

Financial records show the organization's recent struggles clearly. In 2023, the center reported revenue of $279,000 against expenses of $342,000, creating a significant deficit. While the organization had higher revenue in 2021 and 2022, this was largely due to temporary pandemic-era grants that have since expired, forcing the organization to "get creative with fundraising," as Insuaste noted.

Despite these challenges, the organization has secured funding for an upcoming exhibition that will run from fall through spring. Insuaste and the board are working actively to reconnect with donors and community members to build a more sustainable financial foundation for the future.

Founded in 1967, the Berkeley Art Center is located in Live Oak Park in North Berkeley and is preparing to celebrate its 60th anniversary. The center maintains free admission and operates Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Insuaste emphasized the historical significance of the institution and her commitment to its future.

"There's a history to this place," she said. "My job is to make sure we continue to be here for another 50 years and support artists in the East Bay community and the Bay Area as a whole." While acknowledging that "the last five years have been really hard, and transition may take a while," she remains optimistic about building sustainable growth for the organization moving forward.