Nationally Recognized Poet Barbara Fant Named Next Executive Director of Thurber House

Longtime arts leader and poet returns home to Columbus to lead the 42-year-old literary arts organization into its next chapter

COLUMBUS, OH / ACCESS Newswire / April 30, 2026 /Thurber House today announced Barbara Fant, a nationally recognized poet and longtime arts leader, as its next executive director. Fant will begin her role in September, bringing more than 20 years of experience as an artist and nonprofit professional to an organization entering a new phase of growth, partnership and community engagement.

Fant returns to Columbus from Los Angeles, where she most recently worked with Homeboy Industries. She was selected following a thoughtful search focused on identifying a leader with both artistic credibility and nonprofit leadership experience, along with a strong commitment to community connection and expanding access to the arts.

Paula Cole, board president of Thurber House, said: "Barbara was the right choice at the right moment for Thurber House. She brings the rare combination of creative vision, financial and operational strength we set out to find, along with deep roots in Columbus and the relationships to match. Her appointment reflects a clear and confident direction for our future, and we are grateful to the interim leadership and search committee whose work made this possible. "

Fant is the founder of the Black Women Rise Poetry Collective, now operating as The Giovanni Collective under new leadership, and co-founder of the Network Ohio for Arts and Healing (NOAH). Her previous work in Columbus includes leadership roles at The Columbus Foundation and service as artistic director at the Harmony Project, along with collaborations across the city 's cultural community, including Lincoln Theatre, King Arts Complex, Streetlight Guild, Maroon Arts Group, TRANSIT ARTS, Wexner Center for the Arts and Columbus Museum of Art. Her work uses writing and storytelling as tools for connection, healing and self-expression, particularly in communities that have not historically had access to arts programming.

"What excites me most is the chance to build better bridges - across disciplines, across communities and beyond Columbus - and to grow Thurber House into an even stronger hub for literary arts in this city, "Fant said. "Using the arts as a tool for healing has long been my heart space, and I am eager to bring that perspective to this work as we expand who Thurber House serves and deepen what literary programming can mean for our community. "

The appointment comes amid heightened momentum for Thurber House. On May 7, the organization will host the 25th presentation of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, one of the nation 's highest honors for humor writing and cartoon art. Hosted by author John Kenney in James Thurber 's hometown of Columbus, the evening celebrates three honorees for humor writing (Shalom Auslander, Alison Espach and Steven Rowley) and one honoree for humor cartooning (New Yorker veteran Emily Flake). The event culminates in the live announcement of the 2026 Thurber Prize in Writing winner - chosen from finalists Feh, The Wedding People and The Guncle Abroad. Fant will attend the event at CCAD 's Canzani Center. Tickets are available at thurberhouse.org/thurber-prize-award-show. Proceeds support Thurber House 's year-round literary programs for writers, readers and creatives of all ages.

Fant 's appointment also carries a through-line to the organization 's earliest days. Fant has a longstanding relationship with Donn Vickers, Thurber House 's founder and first executive director, who led the organization for more than 15 years and has been a mentor to her throughout her career.

"Barbara brings significant entrepreneurial leadership experience within the literary arts, imaginatively and compassionately creating opportunities for writers and authors to develop their careers and serve their communities, Vickers said. "I am pleased to anticipate her contributions to Thurber House and to Columbus. "

Thurber House will host a full season of summer programming in the months ahead, including the Summer Literary Picnics series, which begins June 10; Summer Writing Camp for students in grades 2-9; Adult Writers ' Studio; and Book Bar (a social mixer for book lovers). Fant will be featured at the July 8 Summer Literary Picnic in conversation with Dionne Custer Edwards to celebrate her new book, "Joy in the Belly of a Riot. "

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About Thurber House

Thurber House is a nonprofit literary arts center in Columbus, Ohio, dedicated to celebrating the life and work of American author and humorist James Thurber. Through author events, social events for book lovers, writer residencies, a historic home museum and creative workshops, Thurber House serves children, teens and adults. It is home to the annual Thurber Prize for American Humor. For more information, visit thurberhouse.org.

For Media, Contact:

Brittany Bowen, Geben Communication
BrittanyBowen@GebenCommunication.com
+1 (614) 226-9542

SOURCE: Thurber House

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