The Decatur Area Arts Council has announced Jami Fawley as its new Executive Director, effective January 1, 2025. A Decatur native, Fawley returns to DAAC following her role as Director of Education and Outreach at the Children’s Museum of Illinois.

Fawley succeeds Jerry Johnson, who retires after a distinguished tenure leading the organization. Her journey with DAAC began in 2014 as an instructor, and she later served as the Anne Lloyd Gallery Coordinator starting in 2019.

“This new role offers me an opportunity to serve the community in a great capacity—it feels very much like a homecoming,” Fawley said. She expressed gratitude for the strong foundation established by Johnson and his predecessors and looks forward to building on their legacy.

An accomplished visual artist and active community member, Fawley is deeply involved in Decatur’s arts and civic organizations. She serves on the boards of Barn Colony Artists and Gallery 510 and is a committee member for Farm to Fund, a farm-to-table fundraiser supporting the Northeast Community Fund.

The Decatur Area Arts Council expressed enthusiasm for Fawley’s leadership and her vision for enriching the local arts community.

For more information about the Decatur Area Arts Council and its programs, visit www.decaturarts.org.