2013 Governors Arts Awards

Distinguished Arts Leadership
Award Recipient: Frumie Selchen, Executive Director of the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire (AANNH); Wonalancet, NH

Frumie Selchen is a dynamic arts leader who has transformed a small rurally based arts service organization into a major force for the arts in New Hampshire with a statewide, regional and national reputation for excellence, innovation and responsiveness. Under her guidance, the AANNH has increased access to arts engagement for students, families, the elderly and visitors across the North Country.  Frumie’s energy and belief in the power of partnerships have been fundamental to the success of several landmark accomplishments, including the 2010 “Measuring Up Arts Education Data Survey” and the creation of the NH Arts Learning Network, the establishment of an artist in residence for the White Mountain National Forest, and the promotion of arts accessibility, especially in the area of early education, through a partnership with VSA New Hampshire and the Kennedy Center.

As Cynthia Robinson stated in her support letter for Frumie, “She is the ultimate champion for the importance of the arts in communities, constantly seeing the possibilities for interweaving, enriching, and leveraging ideas. She is persistent, and where she encounters road blocks, she is even more determined, finding creative ways around the change, finding the right time to move forward, and believing in the vision.

Last updated: November 14, 2013