Mueller to retire from Spiva
June 26, 2015
The Board of Directors of the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts is forming a search committee after the announcement by Jo Mueller's retirement as director, effective September 19, 2015.

"Since beginning her career at Spiva in 2003, Mueller has worked not only to develop Spiva into a dynamic arts and education center, but also to be an effective voice for the arts and their role in improving economic development and the regions quality of life<" according to Brandon Davis, board co-president.

n 2011, the Missouri Department of Tourism awarded Mueller the Spotlight Award to recognize significant contributions by an individual or entity not normally considered part of the tourism industry. The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce presented her with the 2014 Arty Award for contributions to the arts in the greater Joplin area, and in 2010 she was named one of the Joplin Regional Business Journals Most Influential Women.

After the 2011 tornado, Mueller supported exhibits and projects designed to foster healing and rebuilding through the arts. Planned exhibits were postponed in favor of On the Other Side, which gave voice to artists responses to the tornado; Dear World, From Joplin with Love, the Shoebox Project, and Photos from the Storm, that offered glimpses of the aftermath and the more important stories of healing and recovery. Community art projects, Rock a Joplin Bowtie and Rebuilding with Heart, supported the work of Rebuild Joplin. Programming was ramped up for children from the Boys and Girls Club, Joplin Family Y and Spivas summer classes, who created drawings for the community mural at 15th and Main streets. The SpivaKids FunFund, the scholarship fund Mueller began, ensured that at-risk children could participate.

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