A Woman Who REALLY Rocks: A Keeper of the Arts

Come and listen while Host Carmen Milagro interviews a variety of committed women weekly, whom are working to make the world a better place! #DivasThatCare

WWRR Guest: Kerry Adams Hapner

As the Director of Cultural Affairs for the City of San Jose, Kerry Adams Hapner leads the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA). The mission of the OCA is to champion the arts and cultural vitality for San Jose’s one million ethnically diverse residents and its visitors.  Her portfolio includes public art, creative placemaking, special events, cultural funding, convention and cultural facility management, creative entrepreneurship, conventions and visitor bureau, and the creative economy.   She has led the development of significant cultural policy and programs including: Cultural Connection: San Jose’s Cultural Plan; cultural development goals for Envision San Jose 2040, the general plan update; Cultural Funding Portfolio: Investments in Art, Creativity, and Culture; and Playa to Paseo, an initiative between the OCA and Burning Man Project.  

In 2014 and 2015, Kerry was named one of the most powerful and influential leaders in the United States’ nonprofit arts sector in Barry’s Blog, published by the Western States Arts Federation.  She regularly writes on and speaks at national conferences on a wide range of topics from creative placemaking to cultural development to art and technology.  From 2013-2016, she served as the Chair of the United States Urban Arts Federation, comprised of the local art agency executive directors of the 60 largest US cities and has served on the executive committee since 2010. For twelve years, she has served on the board of Californians for the Arts and California Arts Advocates. She is a member of ArtTable, an organization comprised of women leaders in the visual arts.