"It was a special opportunity to go to Salt Lake to work at a larger art center with some interesting challenges, as well as I am originally from the West, so I'm also moving closer to friends and family."

Coming from a smaller art center will have some positives from the perspective of Ferrell's new employer, said Adam Price, a member of the Salt Lake Art Center board who chaired the search committee.

"We're really excited to have her come here," Price said. "We looked at the work she was doing in Salina, and it seemed fantastic, and we feel fortunate that she's going to bring the same kind of creative approach and desire to build community contacts with the community in Salt Lake City."

Making the connection between art center and community is more difficult in larger cities, Ferrell said, and doing that will be one of her biggest challenges.

"The challenge in Salt Lake, as I understood it, is relevancy," she said. "They're in a major metropolitan city, but they want more people to come through their doors and know what they have to offer -- and make better community connections."

It was those very connections that made Salina a special place to direct an art center, Ferrell said.

"That's what brought me here almost three years ago," said Ferrell, who grew up in American Fork, Utah. "There definitely is an opportunity and a need there (for more community connections) in Salt Lake. It's a wonderful art center and it's recognized for its shows, but there's room for growth.

"I think there are things the Salina Art Center does really well, and this is an opportunity to go and share it somewhere else in terms of community partnerships."

Peter S. Johnston, president of the Salina Art Center board of trustees, said in a press release that Ferrell "leaves with our thanks and very best wishes."

Under Ferrell's leadership, the Salina Art Center expanded its reach in the community through several key initiatives, exhibits and programs, Johnston noted. Those include the development of center's artist initiative, made up of a $400,000 warehouse renovation to create a live/work space for artists. She also led the curation of several original exhibitions featuring "prominent national and international artists."

The art center board will announce the appointment of an interim executive director after Ferrell's departure and will appoint a committee to conduct a nationwide search to find her replacement.

John Highkin, executive director of the city of Salina's Arts and Humanities Commission, said he was sad to see Ferrell leave.

"I think Heather has done a magnificent job," he said. "I think she's reached out to a broad range of people in Salina and really did a good job of keeping the art center alive and well and prospering and growing."

n Reporter Darrin Stineman can be reached at 822¬­-1416 or by e-mail at dstineman@salina.com.