Western New York based arts and cultural non-profit venue Artpark has announced the induction of their new president, Dave Wedekindt.
Established in 1974 in collaboration between New York State Parks and the Artpark & Company nonprofit, Artpark has presented the folks of Western New York with astounding performing arts programs each summer for the past fifty years.
With over 150 acres to their name, Artpark hosts a myriad of creative endeavors including but not limited to those of visual artists, dance and cirque arts performers, cutting-edge theater casts, local, national, and international musicians across all genres, poets, writers, and more.
Artpark weaves their creative environment with that of the Niagara River and Gorge through forested trails, sculpture gardens, and outdoor recreation areas that encourage visitors to not only appreciate the creative minds around them but the earth that enables such endeavors and its significance within Western New York’s Indigenous population.
Now in its 50th year, Artpark has announced the appointment of their newest president, Dave Wedekindt. A lifelong Western New Yorker and Amherst local, Wedekindt has worked with Artpark & Company for six years already, first as Director of Marketing & Sales and then as Vice President of Concerts & Marketing, eventually being promoted to Vice President in 2022 before stepping up as the Interim President in April of this year, just prior to the non-profits anniversary.
Wedekindt’s career as an arts management professional spans nearly 30 years. With extensive experience in strategic planning, leadership, programming, marketing, development, finance, and event operations for other large not-for-profit organizations, his new position is promising.
Beyond and prior to his work with Artpark & Company, Dave is a graduate of SUNY Fredonia with a BS in Business Management and subsequently an alumnus of internship programs at Rockefeller Arts Center, Chautauqua Institution, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Rockwell Hall, and Shea’s Performing Arts Center where he took on his first full-time role as Associate Director of Development in 1995.
From there, Wedekindt was recruited for the University At Buffalo Center for the Arts’ Associate Director of Marketing role. Growing the presence of the then only four-year-old organization, Dave was promoted to Director of Marketing in 2003 and served on a number of committees beyond his personal responsibilities across the University.
Dave is also a steadfast advocate for a wide variety of arts organizations in the area, having served on the Board of Directors of MusicalFare Theatre in Amherst since 2017 in addition to chairing the Marketing Committee and serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Arts Services Inc. in Buffalo from 2017-2023. Throughout his career, Wedekindt has volunteered his time and expertise across several other committees, professional panels, and more.
In his new position, Dave is pointing the organization forwards towards its Power 2030 strategic plan alongside the Board and its many stakeholders to include a continued revitalization of Artpark’s grounds and venues, expansion of its programmatic season, and more.
To learn more about Wedekindt’s initiatives as Artpark’s newly announced president and the organization at large, be sure to check out their official website here.
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