Kate Eilertsen named to top spot at Di Rosa Center for Art

Arts advocate, educator and curator Kate Eilertsen has been named acting executive director of di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, the 217-acre preserve of galleries and outdoor sculpture in the Carneros region. 

This story has been updated with the correct spelling of Kate’s last name. The Sun regrets the error.

Eilertsen is a past executive director of The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.

“di Rosa is a magical place with so much potential,” said Eilertsen. “Its rich history, stunning setting and significant collection make it make it stand out among the Bay Area’s cultural institutions.”

Eilersten had been consulting with diRosa this year, and is curating the organization’s first major exhibition slated to open, after the temporary closure, in 2021.

“We’ve had the chance to work with Kate in her curatorial role over the past several months, and we quickly discovered how much more she has to offer,” said Board co-chair Linda Fine. 

“We’re delighted to have someone with Kate’s broad skillset and depth of experience to guide the organization in these unprecedented times,” Fine said. We are confident that Kate’s steady leadership will help di Rosa successfully plan for a sustainable future.”

Eilertsen’s many years as an arts advocate, curator, educator and museum director began at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. She then moved to Boston to open a new museum for the Harvard University Art Museums, and then to San Francisco where she was the Director of Intersection for the Arts, Museum of Craft and Folk Art, and Acting Director of Visual Arts for Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

She has taught at the California College of Arts, San Francisco Art Institute and Sonoma State University.

The di Rosa campus features multiple galleries, a sculpture park and a 35-acre lake, located at 5200 Sonoma Highway. Closed through the end of the year, the organization continues to work closely with community partners to offer creative and educational resources, in addition to producing online at home content. For more information visit www.dirosaart.org.

Photo credit: Nicole Katano