The head of the Arts Council of Princeton is leaving the organization at the end of the year, the organization announced earlier this week without explaining what led to the change.
In a news release the Arts Council issued Tuesday, Jeff Nathanson, the executive director since 2005, offered no insights into why he was leaving.
“The timing is right for me to move on to new challenges, and I look forward to helping achieve a smooth transition over the next seven months,” he said in the statement.
Mr. Nathanson was not made available for an interview, with the organization this week not answering whether he had been asked to leave or if his departure was on his timing. The Arts Council was scheduled to have its annual members meeting and board meeting on Thursday, June 9.
“Jeff has been an outstanding leader not just for the arts community, but for the Greater Princeton community as a whole,” said Arts Council of Princeton Board of Trustees President Ted Deutsch in the same news release.
There were no details released about the process for selecting Mr. Nathanson’s successor to lead an organization with an operating budget over $1.7 million and responsible for running arts programs.
The circumstances surrounding Mr. Nathanson’s impending departure have been the fodder for much speculation within the community. During an appearance before the Princeton Council in May, Mr. Nathanson gave no indication that he was going to be leaving or was even thinking about such a career move.
At the time, he talked of wanting to work with the town on a fiscal impact study of Communiversity, the downtown street fair that the Arts Council manages.
In the news release, the Arts Council touted his accomplishments, including the renovation of the Paul Robeson Center, the organization’s headquarters, and steps to increase programs, among other things.
“It has been an honor and privilege to lead the Arts Council of Princeton through a time of dynamic growth and change,” Mr. Nathanson said in the statement.
His departure comes with the organization sets to mark its 50th anniversary next year, an organization that has expanded its presence to offer programs outside of Princeton.
