<< Back 6/19/02 Bean resigns from Arts Council By David Teague Steven Bean, who began a job as the new executive director of the Haywood County Arts Council on May 8, has resigned the position for personal reasons. Joe Sam Queen, president of the arts council board of directors, confirmed Monday that Bean had resigned. “There was no animosity, he just didn’t think he was the right guy for the job,” Queen said. “We were very happy with Steve, but he personally decided it was not the right position for him. He wanted to make sure we got the right person for the job.” Bean had replaced Trina Royar, who resigned from the executive director’s position earlier this year. He was selected from a field of more than 65 candidates. Before coming to Haywood County, he served as communications director for the Hickory Museum of Art for six years and prior to that worked for several years in a variety of roles with the Foothills Performing Arts program at Caldwell Community College. Bean has returned to his previous position as a designer for Clyde Ray Florist in Waynesville. Queen said the executive committee of the arts council board of directors met June 18 with a full board meeting scheduled for June 20 to decide how to go about finding a new director. He said the board will consider whether to offer the position to one of the other applicants or whether to advertise the position again. “We want to approach the full board and just want to evaluate all options,” he said. “We are in good shape as a board, our fund drive is coming along and our programs are being well supported.” Queen said he expected the arts council office will remain open at least part time, but that the loss of an executive director will put more stress on volunteers. “It does place extra stress, put extra importance on the role of volunteers,” Queen said. “We do have an intern that’s continuing, so that means we will still have staff in the office half a day, all week long, as well as the volunteers. I think everything will go along fairly smoothly. There may be a little delay in getting some phone calls returned.” The arts council board meeting will be at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Library.