James Halliday, the executive director of the South Bay arts nonprofit A Reason to Survive, has announced he will step down on Dec. 31 after six years in the position. A search committee has been formed to search for his replacement.
A Reason to Survive, which goes by the acronym ARTS, is a 22-year-old National City organization that each year provides free visual art and music programs to as many as 750 children, teens and young adults in South County. The programs build community, self-esteem and career skills and help young people in under-served communities creatively confront through art and music some of the societal challenges they face through art.
Halliday said in a written statement that he’s happy to be leaving the organization in a stronger and more resilient position than he found it in 2018, and he’s looking forward to the ideas that new leadership will bring.
“I’ve loved this job and have great pride in all that we’ve accomplished together,” he wrote. “I’m most proud to have been a builder: of a creative space in the ARTS Center that is inspiring, inclusive, and safe for youth, families, and community; of a dynamic team of nonprofit and creative professionals who work everyday to ensure that our mission lives in our programs, and our impact resounds in the lives of the young people participating in those programs; and of a community where Creative Youth Development (CYD) practices have expanded opportunities for youth success across the South County region of San Diego.”
Tom Riese, chair of ARTS’ board of directors, said Halliday did a great deal to stabilize and grow ARTS during his tenure.
“The organization is in tremendously better shape than it was when he started in early 2018. We are now financially solid, he put together a dynamic and experienced staff, and helped develop a dedicated and diverse Board. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” Riese said.
One of Halliday’s key accomplishments was guiding the organization through the pandemic. In April 2020, ARTS transitioned to virtual programming, and over the next 16 months it served more than 1,500 youth and families. ARTS’ annual budget is now close to $2 million, and it has a team of 40, including 17 staff teaching artists.
“These past two years have been the brightest, most expansive period of flourishing in the organization’s history … we’ve come a long way for sure. I’m excited to see how the next leader will build upon this foundation,” Halliday wrote.
A search committee to replace Halliday as executive director and CEO has been formed and applications are being accepted through Jan. 30 at areasontosurvive.org.