Nik Quaife, one of Ireland’s best known arts publicists and the founder and director of Dublin-based Zoetrope Arts Public Relations company, has been appointed Director of Communications and External Affairs at the Irish Arts Center here in New York.

Best know on this side of the pond as the Press and Communications Manager for Imagine Ireland, Quaife oversaw media relations for the Culture Ireland produced year long festival, during which time he developed a close working relationship with the Irish Arts Center.

Quaife’s contract will see him through the next three years of the new Irish Arts Center building opens (scheduled for 2016) and the first season.

“I’m delighted to transfer what I’ve done in Dublin for the last twelve years, which is run a Public Relations company representing Irish arts, artists and various cultural organizations like Culture Ireland,” Quaife told Irish Central.

“It’s been a great honor to work with the Irish Arts Center over the last few years in a part time capacity. Through that I got to know the team there. The fact that they are building this new building that will only increase the amount of work that New Yorkers can see – increasing the opportunities for Irish artists I know too, increasing their profile here – is great.”

Quaife will now primarily be based in New York with responsibility for communications, marketing, membership, and visitor services and will work with the organization's leadership and programming teams to increase the Irish Arts Center’s fundraising base and sustain and build the company's presence in Ireland.

“The job is very much to help the artists that are coming in, to build their profile and build their audience at the center,” he explained.

That will be essential work. The arts center will soon grow from a 99 seater to a 199 seater when the new purpose-built Irish Arts Center opens. “To come on board at this very challenging time is brilliant. It’ll be great to build the reputation and contacts I’ve built up in Ireland and help them find a foothold in New York.”

In a statement Executive Director Aidan Connolly said, “We are thrilled to have Nik joining Irish Arts Center at this exciting time in our organization's history. He brings to the team immense talents and more than a decade of experience - and equally important he shares our passion for building a dynamic, sustainable 21st century platform for Irish arts in the US.”