New Bohemia District arts organization CSPS has named Jim Miller as its new interim executive director.
Mr. Miller has spent his career leading cultural nonprofits that are heavily involved in events and programming. He most recently served as vice president of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library and was the longtime executive director of the Valley Junction district in West Des Moines.
“As a Cedar Rapids native, it is exciting to take on the interim leadership of CSPS. For decades, this has been one of the leading arts and culture organizations in the region, and it is an honor to continue strong programming, events and community outreach,” he said in a release.
He replaces Taylor Bergen, who stepped down from the position after two years to focus on his own business.
“We are sorry to see Taylor go,” Monica Vernon, president of the CSPS organization, stated in a release. “He led CSPS through a tough two years of the pandemic while shoring up CSPS’ financial position. And he shepherded a smooth transition from the founders’ operation, Legion Arts, to the current CSPS. He set the entertainment bar high as he continued to recruit the innovative and inclusive programming for which CSPS is known.”
The organization lost is 501(c) (3) status in 2021 after failing to file tax returns for three years. Mr. Bergen began as interim executive director in October 2019 after the resignation of its longtime leader and co-founder F. John Herbert.
The board submitted all of the Form 990 annual tax returns in November 2021, Ms. Vernon said, and is waiting to hear from the IRS about the non-profit status being reinstated.
