Americans for the Arts

Beth Yerxa is Executive Director of Triangle ArtWorks, a nonprofit serving the arts as a business segment in the Triangle Region of North Carolina. In this role, Yerxa works with other economic development, small business, and arts service organizations to ensure that artists in the Triangle have the resources they need to thrive, while also working to increase the visibility and power of the arts community as a business segment. Through this work, she is helping the broader community – as well as the arts community itself – shift their view of the arts from “charity” to business sector.

Prior to helping found Triangle ArtWorks, Yerxa served on the City of Raleigh Arts Commission, chairing that Commission for an unprecedented three years. She is currently a member of the North Carolina Small Business Alliance and the City of Durham Small Business Advisory Committee. She is a frequent speaker on the role and impact of the arts community as a vital business segment in the Triangle region.  She is also currently Chair of the NC Arts Society Board.

Yerxa began her career in Washington, DC as a litigation attorney handling toxic tort claims and advising trade associations regarding emerging environmental laws. In Raleigh, she expanded her practice to include compliance and regulatory matters for businesses of all sizes, as well as providing advice on environmental issues in real estate and corporate transactions. Yerxa received her JD from the College of William & Mary and her BA from the University of Richmond.