David Tanner has been named executive director of the WCR Center for the Arts.

“We are excited and proud to welcome David Tanner as the WCR’s executive director,” said Jayme Rhoads, president of the WCR Board of Directors. “His valued experience and leadership will positively impact our organization and the downtown Reading arts community,”

Tanner served for 12 years as the Director for the Center for the Arts at Albright College until he was promoted to dean of Arts and Cultural Resources.

During his 14 years at Albright, Tanner managed the Freedman Gallery, serving as director and curator for nine years. He collaborated with student groups, academic departments and community organizations to expand Albright’s arts programs to more than 150 annual events, which received many national awards during his tenure.

Tanner also established the arts administration academic program for which he advised and mentored students and taught all courses.

During his last two years at Albright, he was given oversight of planning for the Black Cultural Collection, the Lakin Holocaust Memorial Resource Center and the College Archives, while also leading the campus-wide Event Planning and Implementation division.

“I am thrilled to take on a leadership role for this important community organization, and I’m grateful to all those board members, volunteers and prior staff who have served the WCR Center for the Arts so diligently and well,” Tanner said. “This historic treasure has a very special place in my heart as it served as the perfect venue for my own wedding. I can’t wait to get the community more involved in the great things that happen in this beautiful facility.”

Tanner also served as the COO of the Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College, Buffalo, N.Y., where he shared leadership duties in opening that museum’s new 84,000 square feet, $32 million, silver LEED certified, state-of-the-art facility.

For five years he managed business operations as the associate director for administration at the Indiana University Art Museum, Bloomington, Ind., and from 1998 to 2003 he was the executive director for the Association of Midwest Museums (AMM), one of eight regional, professional service organizations affiliated with the American Association of Museums (AAM). While in St. Louis, where AMM was headquartered, he also taught in the graduate program for museum studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Before switching over to the arts, he was the executive director of two small history museums, the West Bend Historical Society in Wisconsin and the Peoria Historical Society in Illinois.

Tanner is a member of the museum profession, serving at the national level as both a grant reviewer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services and as a peer reviewer in AAM’s Museum Assessment Program.

Additionally, he served on the board for the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries and participated in planning numerous conferences.

Locally, Tanner has served on the board of directors for the PA Americana Region and as secretary for the College Heights Community Council, and has volunteered for committees and events for the Reading Science Center and Humane PA.

Tanner holds a MPA in museum administration from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIUC) as well as three bachelor’s degrees, in English, history and paralegal studies, also from SIUC. As part of that program, he interned in the summer of 2002 at the Institute of Texan Cultures, University of Texas-San Antonio, where he ran all the merchandise kiosks during the Texas Folklife Festival.

Tanner also has a personal history with the performing arts, serving as a producer and acting in local community theater groups in Wisconsin and Illinois. His strongest artistic passion has always been dance, and he has formal training in ballet and modern as well as extensive experience with tribal fusion, an international form of group improvisational belly dance that borrows from flamenco as well as ethnic traditions of dance from Egypt, Afghanistan, Turkey, Lebanon, Africa and India.

Tanner lives with his husband, Bruce Kimball, in Sinking Spring, and both are avid 2-D and 3-D art collectors. They enjoy entertaining, travel and spending quality time with family and friends.

To learn more about the WCR Center for the Arts 20th anniversary season, sponsorship, donations and volunteer opportunities, visit https://www.wcrcenter.org.

Events

Mexican rapper, singer and songwriter Tito Double P brings his Ay Mama! tour to the Santander Arena in Reading on March 7 at 8 p.m.

His freshman album, “Incomodo,” debuted last summer and quickly skyrocketed to global acclaim, attracting fans who have grown to love his vibrant energy.

The concert will feature Tito’s biggest hits such as “La People II,” “Gavilan II,” as well as tracks from “Incomodo” such as “El Lokeron,” “Dos Dias” and more.

Tickets are on sale at tickemaster.com.

Photography

Berks History Center, 940 Centre Ave., Reading, has announced the opening of their newest rotating exhibit, “Sights Unseen.” This captivating display of photography is presented by the BHC in partnership with the Vision Resource Center of Berks County.

“Sights Unseen” brings to light a fascinating project initiated in the mid-1970s by W. Marc Bernsau. In an innovative approach, Bernsau worked alongside four blind residents of Berks County, equipping them with cameras to capture images guided by their senses of hearing and smell. The exhibit celebrates the creative perspectives of these photographers and offers an intimate glimpse into their experiences.

The VRC has revived this project, selecting four of its clients to participate, echoing the original endeavor. The exhibition showcases the results of both the 1970s and contemporary projects, offering a thought-provoking then and now perspective.

There will be a public reception on Friday from 5-7 p.m. This special evening will not only unveil the exhibit but also provide an opportunity to delve into the diverse talents within our community. Guests will enjoy light refreshments as they engage with photography that challenges conventional perceptions and celebrates unique perspectives.

Access to the opening reception is granted through donations, which support both the BHC and VRC. Your contribution will help ensure these important stories continue to be shared and appreciated.

As part of the celebration, the BHC is reaching out to the families and friends of the photographers featured in the exhibit. If you knew Debbie Austin, Pat White, Jim Yoder or any of the other participants, contact BHC Curator Amber Vroman at curator@berkshistory.org.

“It is a privilege to partner with the Vision Resource Center on this innovative exhibition,” Vroman said. “This display is unlike any we’ve previously presented to the community, and I am thrilled for the public to experience not only the photography but also to gain fresh perspectives and insights into the visually impaired community.”

To learn more about the “Sights Unseen” exhibit or to reserve your tickets for the opening reception, visit www.berkshistory.org.

“Sights Unseen” opens to the general public on Jan. 29.