Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art announces the appointment of independent curator, Dexter Wimberly, Executive Director, chosen by a unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees.

“On behalf of the Board I want to express our excitement and confidence in welcoming Dexter Wimberly to Aljira. Dexter’s experience and expertise is perfectly suited to help us build upon the legacy of Founding Director Victor Davson and help move Aljira forward in unique new directions while remaining faithful to the principles of social awareness, excellence in the visual arts, inclusiveness and diversity which have always been central to Aljira’s mission,” states Aljira Board Chairperson, Richard Cammareiri.

Wimberly, who organized several notable exhibitions for Aljira as Visiting Curator in the past, states “Aljira has been an inspiration to me for many years. It is the embodiment of the importance and transformative power of art. I am extremely honored and happy to lead the organization into its next era. My goal is to build upon Aljira’s strengths and core values and to further secure its future as a meaningful place in the Newark arts community and to amplify its importance to the world.”

Prior to developing his curatorial practice, Wimberly was the founder and CEO of the pioneering Marketing and Public Relations agency, August Bishop. Wimberly has served as Director of Communications for The Museum for African Art, New York, and most recently, Director of Strategic Planning at Independent Curators International, New York. Wimberly has curated exhibitions and developed programs with a wide range of galleries and institutions around the world including The Brooklyn Historical Society; the California African American Museum; Contemporary Art Museum, CAM Raleigh, North Carolina; and the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, New York.

“I admire the way in which Dexter serves artists and applies his entrepreneurial experience to the careers of artists. His knowledge and experience will certainly usher Aljira into a new tomorrow with insightful additions to Newark’s arts community and the region, offering Newark residents and visitors the opportunity to engage in ground- breaking and thoughtful exhibitions,” states Aljira’s Founding Director, Victor L. Davson.

Under Wimberly’s leadership, Aljira is launching a year-long series of exhibitions featuring solo projects by significant, yet underexposed artists, many of whom will be shown for the first time in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.

Recognized as an organization at the forefront of Newark’s thriving urban and cultural life, Aljira continues to break new ground supported by charitable gifts. This summer, Aljira announced several renewed grants totaling $209,000, from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and Merrill Lynch that help underwrite its programs and services to the community.