Ohio State Names Cathy Predmore Permanent Wexner Center Director

The Ohio State University has appointed Cathy Predmore as the executive director of the Wexner Center for the Arts. The new role becomes effective on Nov. 1.

Predmore has held the position on an interim basis while simultaneously managing duties as the head of marketing and communications. She will now lead the center as its permanent executive director.

Trevor Brown, Interim Executive Vice President and Provost, praised Predmore’s recent performance. “During her interim tenure, Cat has offered exceptionally clear and steady guidance, establishing the center’s strategic direction and fostering creative autonomy across the institution,” Brown said. “Her leadership has empowered staff members to advance the center’s core mission and maintained the Wexner Center’s standing as an international destination for contemporary art at The Ohio State University and Columbus.”

Before joining the Wexner Center, Predmore worked as a senior vice president at the national communications agency Fahlgren Mortine. In that role, she led strategic planning and integrated marketing programs for U.S. museums, arts and science institutions, and universities. Her career includes more than three decades of executive experience in strategic planning, operational management, and financial stewardship.

Predmore has received national recognition for her work in fundraising and corporate partnerships. Her awards include the PRWeek Award and Best Brand Awards. She has also served on the boards of the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center and CATCO, now known as The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio.

In a statement, Predmore described the appointment as an honor. “A resource for the culturally curious, the Wexner Center holds a distinctive position both within Ohio State and across the Columbus arts community,” Predmore said. “Looking ahead, I am excited to capitalize on our recent momentum. A year in which we maintained our cutting-edge programming, fortified our foundation and recommitted to our core mission, continuing our legacy as a local and global hub for contemporary artists.”

The Wexner Center operates as a multidisciplinary laboratory for contemporary art. It presents exhibitions, performances, screenings, artist residencies, and learning programs. The center serves as a forum for established and emerging artists to test ideas while providing audiences with cultural experiences.