Batesville Area Arts Council celebrates Carly Dahl’s 10 years of transformative leadership

Above: Batesville Area Arts Council Executive Director Carly Dahl

The Batesville Area Arts Council is recognizing Executive Director Carly Dahl for a decade of leadership that has helped transform the organization into a central fixture in the region’s cultural landscape.

According to a release from the council, Dahl, who assumed the role in 2015, is credited with expanding programming, spearheading renovations, and launching Artoberfest, an annual fall arts and music festival that has grown in both size and popularity. Now a much-anticipated event each fall, Artoberfest brings together regional artists, musicians, and community members in a celebration of creativity and culture in downtown Batesville.

Under her leadership, the arts council completed a major renovation of its gallery space, doubling the size of its workshop area to support expanded community classes and events. The project also added a larger gift shop for local artists’ work and a dedicated community gallery for exhibitions.

“Carly had a clear vision for the new Work/Shop space,” said board president Abby Perrine. “Her vision is what inspired support from the board and from the businesses and individuals who contributed their time and money to the renovation. It would not have happened without Carly’s vision, leadership, and hard work.”

For much of her tenure, Dahl was the organization’s only staff member, managing daily operations, exhibitions, and arts programming.

“Her dedication and tireless work ethic laid the groundwork for the organization’s long-term sustainability,” BAAC said in the release.

In 2021, she secured funding to hire the council’s first gallery assistant to help support the growing organization.

“Carly is a dedicated and driven leader with a true passion for the arts,” said Perrine. “BAAC has flourished because of her vision, passion, commitment, and willingness to do the hard work. Carly’s work over the past ten years has not only enriched our community but also established a lasting foundation for the future of arts in Batesville.”

Reflecting on her 10 years with the council, Dahl said the organization’s growth has been made possible by the support of the Batesville community.

“The support we’ve received from the Batesville community has been incredible,” Dahl Said. “Every step we’ve taken — from expanding our space to launching new events — has been possible because people here believe in what we’re doing. I’m excited to see how BAAC continues to grow in the years ahead,” she said.

Image provided by BAAC