VCU School of the Arts Hires Development Director

By Tom Gresham

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts has named Julia Carr as its executive director of development.

Carr most recently served as the Mid-Atlantic development representative for ChildFund International. Carr brings more than a decade of experience in development to VCU. In her previous positions, Carr has secured major gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations and worked on a capital campaign.

“My position with VCUarts is the perfect culmination of my creative years in the fashion world, complemented by my experience in fund raising,” Carr said. “Because VCUarts is the No. 1 public arts graduate school in the country set within a comprehensive research university, there is so much creative energy and excitement around art in the Richmond community. I look forward to leading the fundraising efforts for the forthcoming VCU Institute for Contemporary Art, which will be a game-changer for VCU and the city.”

Carr will be responsible for the strategic planning, direction and management of fundraising for the VCU School of the Arts, including the annual giving, campaign giving, planned giving and major gifts components. The VCU School of the Arts has 16 programs and more than 3,000 students. It is the top-ranked public graduate arts program in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report. The school will open the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA), a 32,000-square-foot facility designed by renowned architect Steven Holl, on campus in 2015.

“Julia will serve an important role for the School of the Arts as we move forward into a new era,” said Joseph Seipel, dean of the VCU School of the Arts. “Her experience and intelligence will be essential assets for the school in the emergence of the Institute for Contemporary Art and the ongoing development of our top-caliber academic programs.”

VCU’s vice president for development and alumni relations, John Blohm, said "Julia brings great experience to this position, along with deep knowledge of our Richmond community. The VCU development organization welcomes Julia to the team."

Prior to ChildFund International, Carr served as executive director of the Science Museum Foundation. Other previous positions include director of corporate giving for the Science Museum of Virginia Foundation, special events roles with the Science Museum of Virginia and Thalhimers’ Department Store and fashion coordinator at Miller & Rhoads Department Store. Carr also has taught in VCU School of the Arts’ fashion merchandising program.