Miami, FL – September 15, 2022 - Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE), the South Florida non-profit arts organization that empowers artists to think critically about our relationship to the environment, is pleased to announce that Evette Alexander has been named as its new Executive Director. Her appointment coincides with the opening of AIRIE’s application cycle for its 2023 artist residencies in Everglades National Park.

A South Florida native with a deep commitment to the preservation of the region’s unique biodiversity, Alexander brings to AIRIE a strong background in impact strategy and partnerships, and a track record of service. Prior to AIRIE, she served as Director of Learning and Impact at Knight Foundation, where she worked with its Arts, Journalism and Communities programs to better understand and drive meaningful impact.

“We are so fortunate to have Evette Alexander lead AIRIE into its next decade,” said AIRIE Board Co-Chair Tracey Robertson Carter. “Her nonprofit management acumen and strategic planning experience are invaluable — as AIRIE’s commitment to arts, the environment and diversity is more relevant than ever — not only locally, but on a national level as well. Also, her love and knowledge of the Everglades makes her a strong advocate for the South Florida environment.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the AIRIE team and our partner Everglades National Park in empowering artists to explore our relationship to this unique and critical natural heritage,” said Alexander. “AIRIE emerged from the pandemic with an increased focus on elevating diverse voices that is attracting national attention. As Florida faces climate resiliency and sustainable development challenges, AIRIE is well poised to drive engagement at the intersection of the arts, the environment and inclusion.”

The AIRIE residency program, which was established in 2001 in partnership with Everglades National Park, welcomes artists of all disciplines to engage with the natural world through their artistic practices. The program is open to emerging and established artists, writers, curators, choreographers, musicians and other creatives who want to contribute to the interpretation and communication of environmental themes and the Everglades’ impact on the environment and society. During their residencies, artists live and work inside Everglades National Park, the largest tropical wilderness in the United States, and are connected with park rangers, scientists, cultural historians and community leaders to promote understanding of the unique ecosystem of the Everglades and of our environment at large.

The application for 2023 AIRIE residencies is open through September 30, 2022 at 11:59 pm. To access the application and for more information, visit here.

AIRIE is delighted to announce that it was recently awarded a $250,000 grant from The Wege Foundation for the purpose of bringing contemporary artists from more diverse backgrounds to participate in the residency, leading to impactful public engagement. Wege is known for its deep commitment to the environment, particularly as it relates to economic development, education and the arts.

About Evette Alexander

Alexander was most recently Director of Learning and Impact at the Knight Foundation where she worked with its Arts, Journalism and Communities programs to better understand and drive meaningful impact. Prior to that, she was manager of strategy and market intelligence at ADT and led market studies for multinational clients operating in Latin America as an associate director for a management consulting firm.

She has helped to support the next generation of diverse Miami leaders through her nine-year board tenure with Touching Miami With Love, a nonprofit providing academic and personal development for children grades K-12 in the Miami communities of Overtown and West Homestead. She holds a dual BA with highest honors in economics and political science from the University of Florida and an MBA with highest distinction from the University of Manchester. She is also a volunteer sea turtle nesting surveyor with MORAES Foundation and is currently enrolled in UF’s Florida Master Naturalist Program.

AIRIE Mission and History

Artists in Residence in Everglades, in partnership with Everglades National Park, empowers artists to think creatively and critically about their relationship to the environment with a mission of revealing new paths forward.

Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that was founded in 2001 through the efforts of Everglades National Park’s Chief of Interpretation Alan Scott and artist Donna Marxer. Since its founding, AIRIE has welcomed over 190 artists, writers, curators, choreographers, musicians and other creatives to its residency program, permeating the local, national and international art landscape with unique interpretations and stories of the Everglades.

For more information visit airie.org and connect with AIRIE on social media @airieverglades.