NORWICH – The Chenango Arts Council, Norwich, announces that Diane Batson-Smith will join the Council as Executive Director effective July 1st.

With the planned departure of long-time Executive Director Victoria Calvert Kappel announced last January, the Board of Directors embarked upon a 5 month local and national search for her replacement.

Diane Batson-Smith has enjoyed a varied career in the arts starting with her formation of a repertory company in Roanoke, Virginia, to receiving a variety of Emmys and Academy Awards for Hollywood motion picture studios, and as an independent film producer. She was the Senior Producer and Project Supervisor for Dreamworks SKG, a Project Director and Producer for Home Box Office, a studio executive for Walt Disney Productions, and a Co-Producer for Paramount Pictures.