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Austin Area Arts has hired Tom Robbins of Dubuque, Iowa to be their new executive director. 

Robbins comes to Austin with over 30 years of experience in arts management in the midwest. He most recently served as the executive director of The Legacy Theater in Carthage, Illinois. 

Previously, Robbins was the executive director of the Heritage Center at the University of Dubuque and the Schauer Arts and Activities Center in Hartford, Wisconsin. He holds a Master of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been active throughout his career as a community leader and arts advocate. 

Robbins will place long time executive director, Laura Helle, who stepped down in February of this year to take the position of housing director with Three Rivers Community Action.

Helle held the position for seven years between 2016 and 2024.

Austin Area Arts will officially welcome Robbins to the team later this November.