Joy Yost became executive director for the Arts Center of Moultrie starting Jan. 8.

MOULTRIE — The Arts Center of Moultrie Board of Directors announced Monday the hire of Joy Yost as the organization’s next executive director.

Yost most recently served as executive director of the Tifton Council for the Arts for the past eight years, where she was dedicated to building strong relationships between the arts and community organizations, the Arts Center of Moultrie said in a press release. Through her efforts in Tifton, Yost developed new arts programming providing classes for kids and adults, revived Tifton’s annual arts festival, and wrote many successfully funded grants to grow the organization.

“The Board is thrilled to invite Joy into the life of our organization,” said board chair and search committee chair Josh Lovett. “We are extremely impressed by her experience, passion for the arts, and commitment to our region. We welcome her with open arms.”

Originally from Lubbock, Texas, Yost received a Bachelor’s in Business Management from Texas Tech University. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Tift class of 2022 and is currently participating in South GeorgiaLEADS.

“I believe in the power of the arts to transform lives and build communities,” Yost said. “I am a life-long learner and have a passion for making South Georgia a great place to live through exposure to the arts.”

Art has played a key role in Yost’s own life, growing up in rural communities in Texas where she played piano and clarinet. She met her husband, Brian, while marching in the band at Texas Tech. The Yost family resides in Tifton where Brian is the director of the Honors Program and an English professor at ABAC. Together they have four children: James (14), Elliot (10), Calvin (8), and Max (4). In her free time, Yost enjoys reading, playing piano, traveling, attempting to grow flowers in her yard, and volunteering with the children’s program at her church.

“I love that art brings people together and gives life meaning,” she said. “I am really looking forward to what we can do together at the Moultrie Center for the Arts.”

Yost will begin her time in Moultrie on Jan. 8. She succeeds Interim Director Jenny Dell, who has led the organization since the search process began in July. Dell will remain connected to the Arts Center as a marketing consultant.