Norfolk Arts program

Karen Rudd is a volunteer, artist, art advocate and administrator for the arts. Currently she is Manager of Norfolk Arts for the City of Norfolk, Virginia where she helped established the Public Art Program. Karen has the unique opportunity to work with city management, elected officials and the community to pass a funding ordinance, develop policies, procurement processes, contracts and implement workplans. Maybe most significantly, the program funded and dynamic for the past 12 years. 

Norfolk has commissioned approximately 75 public art projects, created public art in parks, along gateways, at the airport and on the starter light rail line. Norfolk Arts manages two community galleries, a city grant process and a unique summer program where artists and students are hired as temporary city employees.  

Prior to moving to Norfolk, Karen worked with the Art Program for Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico. She brings experience working with a variety of arts organizations with a focus on creating meaningful opportunities for artists. Karen believes we are stronger together and has helped to develop a Mid-Atlantic public art peer group for art administrators to learn, grow and share their successes as well as their trials and tribulations. She has been a steward of the arts to create dialog, increase understanding, build a shared sense of community integrating the arts more fully into the life of citizens.

Karen is a practicing painter who holds a BFA from the University of New Mexico.