Metro Arts introduces new public information officer; public art manager recruitment to begin

Metro Arts introduced Darius Barati as the department’s new public information officer during the July 17 Public Art Committee meeting. Barati said he started the position that week and described a background in public media and marketing communications.

“My name is Darius Barati. I may have told some of you. I met some of you already, and some of you may be new to meeting, but, just started a position this week,” he told the committee.

Ashley (staff) said Barati’s hire increases the office’s capacity to publicize Metro Arts projects and that staff are preparing a public-art manager job description. Ashley said staff expect to provide a hiring timeline at the committee’s next meeting after the job description is finalized.

No formal committee action was required; staff presented the hire as an informational update and said recruitment for the public-art manager position will begin after the job description is complete.