FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 12, 2026

 

Crooked Tree Arts Center Strengthens Traverse City Team with New Leadership Hire

Traverse City, Mich. — Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) is strengthening its Traverse City team with the hiring of Kyle Warner as Interim Managing Director and Cai Steen as part-time Operations and Programs Associate. As CTAC enters its second decade in Traverse City, these hires mark an important step in strengthening the organization’s capacity, planning for the future and continuing to build meaningful connections through the arts across Northern Michigan. 

Since opening its Traverse City location in 2015, CTAC has become a gathering place for artists, students, families and community members to experience art, learn new skills and build connections. “Building on those relationships is an important part of ensuring CTAC remains a welcoming, creative home for this community for years to come,” said Russ Knopp, treasurer of the CTAC Board. “Kyle brings a wealth of management and organizational experience to his role as Interim Managing Director. His leadership will be crucial in our continued evolution.”

Warner brings 20 years of nonprofit experience and a strong interest in building relationships, engaging communities and creating opportunities for people to connect. He earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, with minors in political science and history, from South Dakota State University. His experience includes outreach and event coordination, along with the organizational work that helps nonprofit communities thrive.

“In my first few weeks here, I’ve felt the warmth and enthusiasm of the people who make CTAC such a special place,” Warner said. “Art surrounds us in so many forms, and whether or not you have a talent for creating it, art helps us connect to the past and build a bright, hopeful future by bringing our community together. I look forward to getting to know more of the artists, students, supporters and community members who bring this organization to life and help ensure CTAC continues to be a place where our community can connect, learn, and grow.” 

Steen joins CTAC as part-time Operations and Programs Associate, bringing more than a decade of professional experience in the arts, education and exhibition development. A craft artist and metalsmith with a background in traditional and contemporary craft disciplines, Steen recently relocated to Traverse City after building their artistic practice and teaching experience in Southeast Michigan. They earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Crafts and Metalsmithing from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit and have spent recent summers teaching metalsmithing at Interlochen Arts Camp. Steen’s creative practice and teaching are rooted in a deep appreciation for local artists, the region’s lakeshores and the landscapes of Northwest Michigan. 

Together, Warner and Steen will help support CTAC’s programs, operations and community engagement as the organization continues its work in Traverse City. Their arrival reflects an investment in the people and organizational capacity needed to sustain CTAC’s mission and strengthen its connections throughout the region.

Founded in 1971, Crooked Tree Arts Center has spent more than five decades creating opportunities for people to connect, learn and grow through the arts. In Traverse City, that work has grown over the past decade through exhibitions, classes, and community programs that bring people together across generations and interests. As CTAC looks ahead, it remains committed to building on that history, supporting local artists and creating a welcoming place for the community.

For more information about Crooked Tree Arts Center and its Traverse City programming, visit crookedtree.org.

Image: Kyle Warner newly hired as Interim Managing Director at Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City.

Image: Cai Steen newly hired as Operations & Programs Associate at Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City.