Rob Blackson’s curatorial initiatives include Symphony for a Broken Orchestra, Funeral for a Home, 100 People Listening: A Shared Decade, 2021 – 2031, Sail Through This to That, Philadelphia Doll Museum Forward with Barbara Whiteman, and reForm with Pepón Osorio and the Fairhill community. Blackson is a curatorial advisor of ArtPhilly. From 2011 – 2021 he was the founding director of Temple Contemporary at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture. Prior to moving to Philadelphia from the UK in 2011, Blackson was curator of BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Newcastle/Gateshead and curator of public programs at Nottingham Contemporary. An Andy Warhol Curatorial Fellow, and author of numerous publications including If There Ever Was: a book of extinct and impossible smells. Blackson’s curatorial purpose focuses on the ways in which programming of, by, and for a community leads to targeted impact. Over the past ten years, his leadership has illustrated a shift in the way artistic programs can be crafted to build a healthy mutuality of poetic and practical social purpose. With a BA in Fine Arts from Rhode Island School of Design, and a Masters in Curatorial Studies from Bard College, Blackson is poised to take KCA’s community based programming and residency program to new heights.

Over the past two years, Blackson has spent a considerable amount of time in Kent County serving as the Director of Kohl Gallery at the Gibson Center for the Arts, Washington College. Mr. Blackson shared that he is “honored to creatively serve the people of Kent County as the next Director of the Kent Cultural Alliance. This historic site is more than a cultural hub for the county, it symbolizes an expansive commitment of artistic service for all. I am deeply grateful to KCA’s board and leadership for collaboratively creating a local legacy of care that is ambitiously poised for continuing growth.”

According to KCA Board President, Margaret Footner (Co-founder and former Director of the Creative Alliance in Baltimore), “When John told our Board of his plans to move to Maine, many were in tears. He means so much to this community as a friend and cultural leader. John envisioned a new Kent Cultural Alliance and tirelessly led KCA through its first capital campaign, major building acquisition and renovation. He developed ground breaking programs and organized a strategic planning process to collaboratively craft our vision for the future. Rob Blackson is the perfect creative leader to deepen and expand our projects with artists and Kent County’s diverse cultural communities to support and promote their work.”

Throughout the transition, KCA Deputy Director Hester Sachse will use her formidable skills to make the transition smooth and seamless. Sachse, who has worked with KCA since October 2021, manages all organizational operations as well as KCA’s grant making and Chestertown’s Arts & Entertainment District.

Over the last year, the KCA Board of Directors has worked to create a new Strategic Plan which ensures that KCA continues to lead the arts and culture sector in Kent County through service, creativity, and inclusion, and focus on five key objectives to drive a stronger sector for the county and to keep its own programming and services effective and sustainable. In the fall of 2026 KCA, and new Director Rob Blackson, will be rolling out a campaign of information around the new strategic plan as it also launches its FY 2027 grant making and the second part of the HISTORY themed residency (For America’s 250th) with three exciting new artists from the Mid-Atlantic region.

The Kent Cultural Alliance is Kent County’s designated County Arts Council and works in partnership with the Maryland State Arts Council. The Kent Cultural Alliance puts the arts to work creating opportunities for engagement, education, and connection across Kent County.