New Directors at The Pocantico Center and Yonkers Arts

The arts scene in Westchester is growing and evolving with two new directors instated at local organizations in recent months.

Rockefeller Brothers Fund Names Meredith Sorin Horsford Executive Director of The Pocantico Center

Beginning this month, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund has announced Meredith Sorin Horsford as the new executive director of The Pocantico Center. In this position, Horsford will oversee operations and programming for the 200-acre campus in Tarrytown, New York. This includes the David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center, the Conference Center and Kykuit, the Rockefeller family’s historic home.

Horsford brings extensive experience in heritage tourism and community engagement to the role. Previously, she served as executive director of the Historic House Trust of New York City. There, she advanced capital projects and relationships with nonprofit and government stakeholders. Her work at the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum fostered inclusive programming and contemporary connections to historical themes. These included lecture series and art installations that explores the Black experience in America.

Horsford notes that The Pocantico Center brings together “many of [her] passions—history, community [and] modern art.” Her leadership will shape The Pocantico Center’s current and future offerings, continuing The Pocantico Center’s legacy as a hub for learning and collaboration. These include artist residencies, nonprofit conferences and community-focused educational programs.

Yonkers Arts Names Evan Bishop as New Executive Director

As of December, Yonkers Arts has announced Evan Bishop as its new executive director. Bishop, a member of Yonkers Arts since 2018 and its secretary for the past four years, has been pivotal in developing programs that connect local artists with the community.

Bishop’s plans for Yonkers Arts include expanding its reach and diversifying its offerings. Bishop explains: “The Yonkers Arts Board of Directors has entrusted me with the goal of better diversifying our program offerings to include more music, poetry and performance-based events citywide that cater to a variety of demographics. We look to strengthen our relationship with various city and community-based organizations as well.”

To this end, Bishop is heavily focused on youth engagement. “We will bring more family-friendly activities into our beautiful gallery, the Yonkers Arts Project Space, with a special emphasis on youth programming.”

Bishop also emphasizes the importance of highlighting Yonkers’ artistic history. He notes that “a key focus for Yonkers Arts is assuming the role of stewardship of the Carpet Mills Arts District,” referring to the two-block area of the former Alexander Smith Carpet Mills industrial complex, which now consists of YOHO Artists studios, The Mills at Yonkers, Yonkers Arts and more. “This will bring more support, resources and attention to all the great artists and art taking place in this historic area.”

Bishop’s experience includes leading projects such as the 100 Words of Wisdom exhibit and the YES YONKERS! Community Quilt Project, as well as creating impactful murals like the Black Lives Matter street mural in Yonkers.

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^{Photos: Meredith Sorin Horsford (photo courtesy of Rockefeller Brothers Fund); Evan Bishop (photo courtesy of Evan Bishop)}