David Fraher

David Fraher has dedicated his creative skill to building and leading arts organizations and programs throughout the United States. His primary focus for more than 30 years has been at the helm of Arts Midwest where he serves as president & CEO. Under David’s leadership, Arts Midwest has successfully developed international partnerships and networks, produced a variety of arts delivery programs, and managed strategic initiatives designed to strengthen the field. His leadership is marked by a commitment to innovation, managed risk, and a return on investment to Arts Midwest’s member state arts agencies. David is the primary driver of Arts Midwest’s activities in the Building Public Will for Arts and Culture project, lending his strategic insights and leadership to the effort’s activities at the national and test community level. David currently serves on the board of the Alliance of Artists Communities and is an ex officio member of the Arts Midwest board. In 2007 he received the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies’ Gary Young Award for contributions to public support for the arts, and in 2008 he received the NEA Chairman’s Medal for distinguished service. David has a degree in creative writing from SUNY at Brockport, New York, is a published poet, and completed two years of graduate work in creative writing and American literature at Ohio University in Athens.