Wyoming Arts Council

Sam Gappmayer — executive director of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts in Ketchum, Idaho, since 2002 — will helm the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, the museum announced today. He is expected to begin his duties in October.

He replaces Michael De Marsche, whose controversial four-year tenure ended with the announcement of his resignation days after the museum opened a $30 million addition in August 2007.

“Sam Gappmayer has a significant history of achievement in taking the arts organizations he has served to higher ground,” Jon Stepleton, chairman of the arts center’s board of trustees, said in a statement. “And he has done so in a highly collaborative way, with great integrity, openness and sense of communityconnection.”

Prior to his tenure at the Sun Valley Center, Gappmayer’s previous experience includes heading the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center (1999-2002), Fresno Art Museum (1996-1999) and Salt Lake Art Center (1992-1996). Before that, he was director of the Nicolaysen Art Museum in Casper.