New director hired by Northeast Minneapolis arts organization

Alejandra Pelinka has left the Burnsville Performing Arts Center to head the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) where her primary task will be organizing and promoting Art-A-Whirl, an annual open-studio event that lures thousands to the neighborhood's warehouse art businesses and studios.

"We want to reach out to our members more and partner with more businesses, organizations and educational institutions," said painter Susan Wagner Ginter, NEMAA president. "And, of course, we're trying to secure the survival of the organization."

Pelinka, who lives in Burnsville, started work at NEMAA in late December. Since 2008 she was office manager and art gallery director at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, a theater and multi-purpose venue in the south metro suburb. There she ran the 2000 sq ft. gallery and set up a jury-review process for the "Art and All That Jazz" festival in March 2010. She has also been president of the non-profit Burnsville Visual Arts Society since 2007. At Intermedia Arts in South Minneapolis she worked from 2007 - 08 as office manager and volunteer-intern coordinator.

"We really need somebody who can inspire volunteers and get people to work for our organization," said Ginter, citing Pelinka's experience with Intermedia's volunteer program. NEMAA has an annual budget of about $150,000 but hopes the new director, its sole employee, will be able to increase funding and expand the operating budget.