By Mary Alice Murphy

Kevin Lenkner has been on the job of Mimbres Region Arts Council executive director for about three weeks.

When asked why he chose to apply for the MRAC executive director position and relocate to Silver City, Lenkner said he looked at the website.

"It was a good combination of things that knew how to do and about half were things that would stretch me," Lenkner said. "Performances, events and tourism are not part of my past. However, I am a fan of lifelong learning, so I knew they would challenge me.

"I stayed in the same place for more than 20 years," he said. "I didn't realize how much I didn't grow by staying in place. This is literally a different environment, in a small town with a different dynamic.

"I'm really excited about this opportunity," Lenkner said.

He said he had lived in York, PA, a town of about 8,000, but in a county of 500,000 for 40 years.

"I'm impressed with how much is here," Lenkner said. "I envisioned a small prairie town, sort of a one-traffic light town. My first time in Silver City, it didn't take me long to realize how different this town is from towns in the northern part of New Mexico, which I have visited often. This is a unique, a great town."

He said he has experience to draw on in the arts, but "I want to listen to your ideas that are here and implement them if possible. I want to hear the needs and address the possibilities."

Lenkner acknowledged the "great foundation" that the previous director, Faye McCalmont, and the board have built. "The board has asked me to build on that foundation and add to it."

"There are things that are working well for MRAC and there are things that I think need to be explored," Lenkner said. "I want more ideas on education and the future of the arts in the community. I need more ideas on art and creativity. We can offer things that complement and supplement what is available in the schools. The student outreach at Pickamania was great for me to see.

"One of the things I will take on is the Fine Arts Friday program and build connections with the schools," he said.

"The Number 1 thing I have to worry about is building audiences," Lenkner said. "There is so much competition nowadays for people's attention."

He said his short-term goals include listening to as many people as possible, such as artists, performers, social studies folks and educators.

"The arts has the unique ability to transcend all barriers—economics, age, demographics," he said. "Our opportunity is to build on that and build on our successes. MRAC is well respected. It was very appealing to me because of it's having that respect and having a seat at the table, not just in the arts, but also in other aspects of the community.

"I want to work to affect the broader community," Lenkner said. "It's a challenge to continue to get volunteers, because they are critical."

A hope of his in MRAC's future is for the council to be a provider and a facilitator of arts.

"The Youth Mural Program, with 10 to 20 more Dianas (Diana Ingalls Leyba, the program director), could expand its conduit," Lenkner said.

He said the community where he came from people didn't want to admit that they were artists.

"Silver City has a great number of artists and performers who are proud to be seen as artists," Lenkner said.

"I want to support the schools," he continued. "Long-term I want equitable access to the arts, geographically, economically and ethnically. I want to use the arts to make the lives of our youth better."

At his last position, he worked with the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office. "Letting kids have the chance to express their creativity positively opens their eyes. We want to partner with them.

Lenkner noted there was no scarcity of need in the community, but "marshaling resources is always a challenge. The university is an untapped resource. They are doing a great job supporting MRAC. How can we help them?"

His background includes serving York Arts in York, PA, for 22 years, with the past 14 as executive director.

He asked people to feel free to share ideas with him for how the arts can further enhance the community. "We will try new things and we need support. MRAC uses its donations well, and we are looking to increase the impact of sponsorships. I want to continue to grow the impact of sponsorships and contributions to reach a broader audience."

"No matter where a person is, there is never too much art," Lenkner said. "This kind of work is a marathon, not a sprint out of the gate. I'm in it for the whole 26.2 miles."