MEDIA CONTACT:
Vanessa Ormsby, RCA Communications Director
(361) 320-2064 / vanessa@rockportartcenter.com
KATHLEEN CLARK BARRERA NAMED ROCKPORT CENTER FOR THE ARTS DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Former RCA Education Director returns June 23
ROCKPORT, Texas (June 11, 2025) — The Rockport Center for the Arts (RCA) today announced Kathleen Clark Barrera as the next deputy director, working alongside the former deputy director, Karen Ernst, who took over as executive director June 1.
Barrera will take on her new RCA role on June 23 after two years as development officer at the Art Museum of South Texas (AMST) in Corpus Christi. During her tenure at AMST, she increased foundation funding by 45% and corporate support by 104%, managed a portfolio of over 45 grants, and helped the organization raise more than $1 million. Barrera previously served as the RCA education director from 2022 to 2023, responsible for projecting and managing department budgets, hiring teaching artists, marketing educational programs, planning and implementing annual summer camps, as well as continuing education conferences for art educators.
“Kathleen is an ideal fit for this next chapter of Rockport Center for the Arts,” said Ernst. “She brings a rare blend of operational insight, programming experience, fundraising expertise, and a deep understanding of our organization’s culture and mission. We are very happy to welcome her back to our team.”
As deputy director, Barrera will serve in a high-impact role supporting Ernst in overseeing the daily operations of the organization, ensuring staff alignment with strategic goals, optimizing internal systems, advancing key projects across departments, and ensuring the smooth execution of RCA’s signature events and development initiatives.
Barrera holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, a Master of Arts in Arts Management from the University of Houston, and is currently working on her Master of Business Administration at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, with graduation expected in May 2026.
“I’m honored to step into the role of deputy director at Rockport Center for the Arts, one of Texas’s most respected multidisciplinary arts organizations,” said Barrera. “It’s a privilege to return to RCA and contribute to the continued excellence of an institution that has enriched the cultural landscape for nearly 57 years. In this role, I look forward to strengthening organizational operations and expanding community engagement through inclusive, innovative programming that reflects the vibrancy of the Coastal Bend.”
About Rockport Center for the Arts
The 1.2-acre Rockport Center for the Arts, the Coastal Bend’s first multidisciplinary arts organization, is located a block away from Aransas Bay in the heart of the Rockport Cultural Arts District. Designed by the award-winning team at Richter Architects, the state-of-the-art campus features a two-story, 14,000-square-foot, visual arts and education building with four galleries and five classrooms (204 S. Austin St.); The Rockport Conference Center, a one-story, 8,000-square-foot conference and event center, known as The ROCC, (106 S. Austin St.); with a 16,000-square-foot Sculpture Garden serving as a visually inspiring transition space between the two buildings. The hours of operation for the showroom, galleries, and gift shop are Tuesday–Saturday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday from noon–4 p.m. Admission is always free. For information on event space or to book an event, call (361) 450-8033. For general information and to become a member, visit rockportartcenter.com, follow RCA on Facebook, or call (361) 729-5519.
###