RANDY METCALF

UApresents executive director Ken Foster recently won the Jerry Willis Award for artistic excellence and superb leadership of the performing arts.

Monday October 15, 2001

Director of UApresents wins award for performing arts program

UApresents owes much of its present popularity and success to the efforts of its executive director, Ken Foster.

Foster, in his eighth year as executive director of UApresents, was recently awarded the Jerry Willis Award for artistic excellence and superb leadership of the performing arts.

"It is an incredible honor because it's a prestigious award in our field," Foster said. "I didn't expect it, (but) I was thrilled to get it."

Lisa Booth, of Lisa Booth Management, expressed her pleasure in presenting Foster with the award in a press release.

"It is a pleasure and an honor for me to present this very special award to someone who exemplifies so beautifully what the art of presenting can be," she stated. "In seven seasons, this person has transformed a fine presenting program in the West into an exemplary one with strong influences locally, regionally, nationally and internationally."

Foster credited his award to his "tremendous" staff.

"(They are) really dedicated," he said. "(They) know their jobs - what to do and how to do it - (they are) committed to the organization."

He added that his staff has grown over the years because of an increasing number of performances coming to the University of Arizona through UApresents.

Foster's growing staff applauded his efforts and commitment.

Tara Kirkpatrick, UApresents publicist, described Foster as inspiring.

"Having been here just one year, I can honestly say that we all have a passion for what we do - and I think that is driven by his leadership," Kirkpatrick said. "It is rare and an honor to work for someone who you honor and respect."

UApresents' director of finance and administration, Natalie Bohnet, has been working with Foster for six years.

"(Foster) is a mover and a shaker," she said. "He is willing to stand up for what he believes in and to change things and not always go along with the status quo."

She added that while Foster has taken risks during his career with UApresents, those risks have paid off.

"He has transformed (UApresents) into a successful (and) financially viable program," she said.

Foster said what he most likes about working with UApresents is that it allows him to meet a broad range of diverse artists which he can, in turn, share with the university and larger Tucson community.

"We have a very interesting world dance program, but we (also) do classical music and Broadway and everything in between," Foster said of the UApresents program.

"Since I have come here, in addition to being bigger, there are more performances - a broader range of programs."

He added the broader range of programs includes an increase in the amount of contemporary artists featured throughout the year as well as a general increase in the diversity of the program.

"We have tried to select artists that might be appealing to students as well as to the greater community," he said. "(We have a) huge commitment to presenting a diverse program - and a culturally diverse program. (We are) committed to presenting artists from around the world."