Santa Fe Indian Market Welcomes New Director

Kim Peone will be the first Native American woman in SWAIA's history to serve as Executive Director

News provided by

Southwestern Association for Indian Arts

Apr 16, 2020, 09:12 ET

SANTA FE, N.M., April 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After a nationwide search, SWAIA's Board of Directors (www.swaia.org) is proud to announce the selection of Kim Peone as its new Executive Director. Peone is an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes of Washington and currently resides in Santa Fe.

Kim Peone © Courtesy of Santa Fe Indian Market

"The Board is excited by the impressive background Peone brings to SWAIA to lead Indian Market through our Centennial year (2022) and into the next century. Peone's 30 years of experience in Indian Country, astute business and financial background, as well as great managerial and leadership skills were a perfect fit for SWAIA's needs going forward," said Board Chair Tom Teegarden.

Peone's father Richard (Eastern Band of Cherokee), and mother Annabelle (Colville Confederated Tribes), met while attending the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, and started a family. Peone was born in Santa Fe— a city known as an American Indian art mecca.

Kim Peone's career has taken her across Indian Country from coast to coast, serving tribes and tribal entities in numerous professional capacities. Most recently, Peone was the CEO/CFO of an extremely successful tribal corporation in Washington State. Her full circle journey has led her back to Santa Fe to pursue professional opportunities. Her expertise is building accountable, sustainable, and disciplined Native organizations that exceed expectations of key stakeholders.

The Board has an ambitious vision for the future of SWAIA, building on past successes and taking the organization to new levels of impact that benefit Native artists. Part of SWAIA's mission is to form solid partnerships to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization; this aligns with Peone's leadership philosophy.

"It was a tough decision to postpone the 99^th Indian Market this year in the wake of COVID 19, especially given the economic impact on our artists and the event's $165 million-dollar impact on the economy of northern New Mexico," said Traci Rabbit, artist and Board member. "We must move forward, and I am confident Kim's background and abilities will successfully lead SWAIA into the future. There are many challenges ahead for organizations like SWAIA, and the Board is committed to ensure that its legacy and influence will not only withstand those challenges, but emerge stronger with lessons learned."

About SWAIA: The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) is a non-profit organization supporting Native American arts and culture. It creates economic and cultural opportunities for Native American artists by producing and promoting the Santa Fe Indian Market, the biggest and most prestigious Indian art event in the world since 1922. SWAIA plays an ongoing role in supporting Native American arts and culture year-round, cultivating excellence and innovation across traditional and non-traditional art forms and developing programs and events that support, promote, and honor Native artists.

SOURCE Southwestern Association for Indian Arts