ARTIS—NAPLES ANNOUNCES ERIC BALMER AS CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Naples, Fla. (August 15, 2024) – Artis—Naples announced today the appointment of Eric
Balmer as Chief Administrative Officer. Balmer joins Artis—Naples from Florida Gulf Coast
University (FGCU), where he worked for nearly 20 years. Balmer’s decades-long career centers
around creating positive guest experiences at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, the Turner
Civic Center and, most recently, in leadership roles with FGCU. Since 2005, Balmer has been a
part of FGCU’s strategic expansion design while enjoying progressive responsibilities including
serving as Executive Director of Events and Reservations within the division of Administrative
Services and Finance.

After a nationwide search process in partnership with Intentional Works, Balmer was the
unanimous choice of the search committee, which included members of the Artis—Naples
Board of Directors and Administrative Team. The Chief Administrative Officer is responsible
for a variety of key departments, including Event Services, Human Resources, Safety and
Security and the Front of House teams, focusing on the organizational culture and experiences
that define Artis—Naples for both internal and external constituencies.

“We are thrilled to welcome such a talented, thoughtful and positive leader to Artis—Naples,”
said CEO and President Kathleen van Bergen. “Eric’s experience in events, administrative
services and team building in Southwest Florida over the past two decades makes him the
perfect fit for this role. I very much look forward to working with Eric.”

Balmer added, “I would like to thank CEO and President Kathleen van Bergen and members of
the Artis—Naples Board of Directors and Administrative Team for entrusting me with this
amazing opportunity. I am beyond excited to join the talented leadership team and look
forward to helping provide memorable experiences to all who attend the world-class programs
and events that Artis—Naples offers.”

A graduate of University of Central Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University, Balmer will join
Artis—Naples senior leadership on August 19, 2024.
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ARTIS—NAPLES
Home of The Baker Museum and the Naples Philharmonic, Artis—Naples is unique among
cultural institutions nationwide, equally dedicated to both the visual and performing arts
featuring artists of global distinction.

KIMBERLY K. QUERREY and LOUIS A. SIMPSON CULTURAL CAMPUS
Led by CEO and President Kathleen van Bergen and Sharon and Timothy Ubben Artistic and
Music Director Alexander Shelley, Artis—Naples offers more than 800 paid and free events
annually across its 8.5-acre Kimberly K. Querrey and Louis A. Simpson Cultural Campus.
Artis—Naples welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for a broad array of artistic
and educational opportunities perfect for audiences of all backgrounds and interests. The
cultural campus is home to five buildings, including two performance halls (Frances Pew Hayes Hall and Myra J. Daniels Pavilion), The Baker Museum, the Toni Stabile Education Building and the Kohan Administration Building.

NAPLES PHILHARMONIC
The Naples Philharmonic has long been recognized as one of the cornerstones of Southwest Florida’s arts community. As part of Artis—Naples, the Naples Philharmonic performs more than 140 orchestral and chamber music concerts, as well as opera and ballet, education, community and special event concerts annually between September and June in the 1,477-seat Hayes Hall, the 283-seat Daniels Pavilion and around Southwest Florida. The Naples Philharmonic has enjoyed a history of working with world-class music directors. Following a successful designate year in 2023-24, Alexander Shelley begins his new role as artistic and music director in the 2024-25 season. Renowned violinist James Ehnes continues as artistic partner through the 2024-25 season, working with Naples Philharmonic musicians in a variety of settings with a focus on inspiring and embodying a high level of artistry. Podium leadership also includes Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, celebrating 15 years in this role in the 2024-25 season and bringing pops performances that celebrate music across genres.

THE BAKER MUSEUM
The Baker Museum is the foremost fine art museum in Southwest Florida, presenting an ambitious slate of exhibitions annually to complement installations of works from its permanent collection. Comprising more than 4,000 objects, the museum’s broad holdings of 20th- and 21st-century art reflect particular strengths in modern art of the United States and Mexico. The Baker Museum's collections reflect the generosity and commitment of area collectors, including significant gifts from the collection of the late Olga Hirshhorn.
With more than two decades of collecting and exhibiting, the museum is committed to the stewardship and scholarship of its collections and to fostering inspiring and transformative experiences with the visual arts. At the same time, The Baker Museum partners with the world’s leading arts institutions to make extraordinary exhibitions accessible to the Southwest Florida community—including recently the National Portrait Gallery, London and the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. In 2020, Artis—Naples celebrated the renovation and expansion of The Baker Museum and adjoining Norris Garden, designed by Weiss/Manfredi Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism, which created new spaces for multidisciplinary exploration and social interaction.

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY
In addition to creating and presenting visual and performing arts, Artis—Naples provides
robust education and community activities for students of all ages in Collier and Lee counties. Each season, thousands of Collier County Public School students interact with Artis—Naples education programming, both on our cultural campus and in their classrooms. Beyond our commitment to youth education, the Lifelong Learning program provides informative lectures and study opportunities for adults seeking to engage more deeply with the arts.

The Friends of Artis—Naples, comprised of more than 3,500 donor households, offers activities, travel experiences and events designed to foster a deeper relationship between patrons and the arts.
In 2017, Artis—Naples acquired the Naples International Film Festival (NIFF), expanding its
film offerings and providing a platform for the festival’s continued excellence and growth. In
2023, the festival’s 15th anniversary year, NIFF was named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “20 Great Film Festivals in Vacation Destinations.”

Contact: Tim Hausler, Communications Manager
thausler@artisnaples.org | 239-961-2017
Website: artisnaples.org
Facebook: facebook.com/artisnaples
Twitter: @artisnaples
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