Arts Council Names Shannon Henry Interim President and CEO

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (JULY 3, 2025)—The board of trustees of the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County has named Shannon B. Henry interim president and CEO effective immediately following the resignation of Samantha Howard. Henry joined the Arts Council’s board of trustees in 2020 and currently serves as board secretary.

Howard came to the Arts Council in September 2024 and resigned effective Thursday, July 3, 2025.

“We thank Samantha for her dedication to the Arts Council during the last year,” Arts Council Board of Trustees Chair Howard Upchurch said. “On behalf of the entire board, we wish Samantha all the best.

“I look forward to working closely with Shannon to begin shaping an exciting new future for the Arts Council during her interim role,” Upchurch added. “Shannon has a deep devotion to the arts community and the skillset needed to take the actions and make impactful accomplishments in short order.”

Henry lives in Winston-Salem and is a widely respected leader in strategy, operations, audit, and risk management. Most recently, she served in a consulting capacity as Acting Chief Strategy Officer at Winston-Salem State University. Earlier in her career, Henry was chief operating officer at PBS North Carolina and held a dual appointment as chief audit, risk, and compliance officer for both the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Winston-Salem State University. In addition to her executive leadership in higher education and public media, Henry is also an entrepreneur and founder of a boutique hat line that blends sophistication and bold style and reflects her passion for craftsmanship and creative expression. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mount Saint Mary College, a master’s degree in accounting and financial management from Keller Graduate School of Management, and completed the postgraduate program in Lean Six Sigma at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Upchurch said the Arts Council’s board of trustees will initiate a national search for a permanent president and CEO.

Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County is the leading advocate of the arts in our region and seeks to enhance and support the artistic and cultural landscape of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Established on August 9, 1949, Arts Council has been a vital part of our community for 75 years. Arts Council’s owns and operates a campus which includes the Milton

Rhodes Center for the Arts, Sawtooth School for Visual Art, Hanesbrands Theatre, and more, serving as key hubs for creativity. In 2023, it hosted 670 on-campus events with 60,000 attendees, showcasing theater, dance, comedy, music, visual arts, literary arts and more. As a grant maker, Arts Council distributed over $1.2 million in grants in 2023, benefiting over 800,000 people.

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