Mark Richard Leach, Juror

A native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Mr. Leach is the current Executive Director of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem and previously held the post of Chief Curator of the Mint Museum of Craft + Design. Leach is a graduate of the Getty Leadership Institute for Museum Management. He received a B.A. in studio ceramics from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and graduated from Harvard University with an Ed.M. degree, specializing in twentieth century art and nonprofit administration.

Leach has held curatorial posts in Arkansas, Montana, Wisconsin and Ohio. He has taught, lectured, and moderated panels on public and environmental art, art criticism, and curatorship. He has authored articles for such publications as The Journal of Arts Management, Law, & Society; the American Association of Museum’s Excellence & Equity Newsletter, New Art Examiner; Metalsmith; Artvu; FIBERARTS, and American Ceramics. Mr. Leach is a trustee of the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass. He is formerly a trustee of the American Craft Council. There, he served on the Council’s executive committee as chair of the publishing committee, overseeing American Craft magazine. He also served on the Advisory Board of the National Council on Education in the Ceramic Arts (NCECA).