Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Arts Center Announces Kalmia Strong As New Executive Director

Media contact:

Dorothea Braemer, Squeaky Wheel President, Board of Directors

braemed@buffalostate.edu, (716) 213-8319

Click here to download photographs and a PDF of this announcement

After a rigorous national search, Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Arts Center has hired Kalmia Strong as its new Executive Director. Strong is an arts organizer, artist, designer, and educator with extensive experience in nonprofit organizations and community-building work. Strong’s passion for exploring and supporting how people gather, cooperate, and share knowledge to enact cultural resistance and social change aligns with Squeaky Wheel’s legacy of community access and innovative education. Strong will continue the bold and visionary legacy of Squeaky’s most recent Executive Director, Zainab Saleh.

“The staff and my colleagues on the search committee were captivated by Kalmia’s passion for Squeaky Wheel and her confidence in taking the reins as Executive Director,” says Donte McFadden, board Vice-President and search committee co-chair. “Her vast level of experience and knowledge will guide her efforts in making a legacy non-profit arts organization have a greater impact on Buffalo and the wider region.”

Strong received her BA from Gallatin School of Individualized Study at NYU and spent several years there working in education, food, and community spaces. She received an MFA in Book Arts and an MA in Library and Information Science from the University of Iowa. While in Iowa City, she became involved with Public Space One (PS1), at the time a DIY basement art space. Strong has spent the past 13 years collaboratively leading the organization as Program Director. During this time, PS1 has grown to be the steward of four buildings that serve as creative hub and resource for diverse artists and community members, hosting thousands of events and garnering local, regional, and national collaboration and support — all while maintaining an artist-led, community-driven approach. At PS1, Kalmia was a key collaborator in establishing and sustaining Iowa’s only community-access media arts and printmaking studios, the Center for Afrofuturist Studies residency, a robust sliding-scale adult arts education program, and an equipment lending library. Kalmia has also worked with ICDOCS film festival, the Grant Wood Art Colony, the International Dada Archive, the Iowa Youth Writing Project, Open Air Media Festival, and PromptPress, among other organizations and projects.

“I’ve been a fan of Squeaky Wheel for years and feel incredibly honored to join this amazing organization. Squeaky’s unique work at the intersection of media arts access, education, and exhibition resonates deeply with my own dedication to creating and sustaining accessible and equitable resources and infrastructure for artists and makers of all ages and experiences to learn, collaborate, and thrive,” says Strong. “I look forward to working with Squeaky Wheel’s talented team, partners, and community members to strengthen and grow this crucial work.”

“Kalmia’s leadership style comes from a deeply lived philosophy about positive social change, collaboration, shared space, and the role of art in community,” says Dorothea Braemer, President of the Squeaky Wheel board. “Her vision of Squeaky Wheel has inspired the entire staff and board. We cannot wait to work with her!”

Strong will move from Iowa City to Buffalo to assume her new position as ED at the end of January. She is very excited to become a resident of Buffalo and Western New York. “I can’t wait to learn about and contribute to the local community,” she says, “as well as connect with Squeaky’s creative community near and far.”

For media inquiries, contact Dorothea Braemer (Squeaky Wheel President, Board of Directors) at braemed@buffalostate.edu or (716) 213-8319 .

About Squeaky Wheel

Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center promotes innovation and creativity in media arts through access, education, and exhibition. We celebrate media as a means of artistic, personal, and socially committed expression.Squeaky Wheel is guided by core values including: Creativity & Experimentation: We embrace experimentation as essential to the creative process; Media & Digital Literacy: We engage individuals with technical and critical approaches to film and digital media technologies at every level of need and knowledge; Community Engagement & Collaboration: We connect communities, local and international, as both a leader and a partner with artists, educators, schools, and community groups; Equal Access: We actively remove barriers that can prevent access to our programs by offering programs with free and affordable tuition, free and low-cost admission to events, and work trade/volunteer/internships opportunities. We are the only nonprofit in Western NY with an inclusive roster of education, equipment access, and exhibition programming dedicated to film and digital media arts. For more information, visit squeaky.org.