Creative Growth Art Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Cara Levine and James Spindler to its Board of Directors, effective May 2026.

Oakland, CA— May 21, 2026

James Spindler is an award-winning creative director and brand strategist. His projects include the critically acclaimed Gagosian for iPad, the Grammy Award–nominated Sting 25 music and tablet app; Maya Lin’s What Is Missing?, a permanent multimedia installation at the California Academy of Sciences; and the identity and interactive films for Mission Juno to Jupiter, which received NASA’s Group Achievement Award.

James’s work has been recognized by the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, AIGA, the New York Art Directors Club, the Clio Awards, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Grammy Awards.

“I have been deeply moved by the artists and community at Creative Growth. The artists’ work is so varied but all is  fearless, honest and profoundly human. I am thrilled to join the Board to help further Creative Growth’s mission of expanding access, inclusion, and opportunity for all.” - James Spindler

Cara Levine is a Los Angeles–based artist, educator, and longtime advocate for artists with developmental disabilities. For more than 15 years, she has worked within the progressive art studio movement, supporting artists and advancing greater visibility and equity for disabled artists in contemporary art. Levine is currently an Associate Adjunct Professor at Otis College of Art and Design and an accomplished visual artist whose recent solo exhibitions include the Contemporary Jewish Museum and the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education.

“Creative Growth has played a foundational role in shaping the progressive art studio movement and transforming how artists with developmental disabilities are recognized within contemporary art,” Levine said. “I am honored to join the board and support the organization’s mission to nurture artists, protect their rights, and build a more inclusive and creative world.” - Cara Levine

MORE About James Spindler:

“He brings a rare combination of creative vision, strategic thinking, and generosity of spirit. As we build on Creative Growth’s extraordinary legacy, his insight will help us amplify the voices of our artists and connect our mission to new communities of supporters and collaborators.” - Michael Beland, Creative Growth Board President

James Spindler is an award-winning creative director and brand strategist whose work spans the worlds of art, design and technology. Over the course of his career, he has developed brand identities, digital platforms, and storytelling initiatives for some of the world’s most innovative artists, institutions, and global brands.

His projects include the critically acclaimed Gagosian for iPad, a pioneering quarterly art application that offered unprecedented access to Gagosian’s international network of artists and galleries; the Grammy Award–nominated Sting 25 music and tablet app; Maya Lin’s What Is Missing?, a permanent multimedia installation at the California Academy of Sciences; and the identity and interactive films for Mission Juno to Jupiter, which received NASA’s Group Achievement Award.
James’s work has been recognized by the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, AIGA, the New York Art Directors Club, the Clio Awards, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Grammy Awards.

He studied communication design at Pratt Institute and has been a featured guest lecturer at School of Visual Arts, Parsons School of Design, VCU Brandcenter, and AIGA New York. He has also spoken at Nicholas Negroponte’s TTi Vanguard Conference, Design as Strategy.

A longtime supporter of the arts, James brings to Creative Growth a deep commitment to the transformative power of artistic expression and a passion for connecting mission-driven organizations with broader audiences. His expertise in branding, strategic communications, and storytelling will help strengthen Creative Growth’s visibility, expand its network of supporters, and advance its mission to champion artists with developmental disabilities.

“I have admired James’s ability to translate complex ideas into compelling stories that resonate across audiences,” said Sunny A. Smith, Creative Growth Executive Director
 

MORE About Cara Leviine:

“We are thrilled to welcome Cara to the Board of Directors,” said Sunny A. Smith, Executive Director of Creative Growth. “Cara brings a rare combination of firsthand experience in progressive art studios, a deeply engaged artistic practice, and a lifelong commitment to civic responsibility and social justice. Her knowledge of the field and passion for our mission will be invaluable as we continue to build on Creative Growth’s extraordinary legacy.”

Levine’s connection to the progressive art studio movement began in 2011 as a graduate intern at NIAD Art Center. She later served as ceramics instructor at Creative Growth from 2012 to 2014, where she witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of the organization on artists and the broader community.

Her subsequent work has included roles with Project Grow at Albertina Kerr in Portland and Exceptional Children’s Foundation (ECF) Art Centers in Los Angeles, one of the nation’s largest disability service organizations supporting progressive art studios. In response to the limited structural support for disabled artists in the broader art world, Levine founded Outlook Is__ Projects, an exhibition space within her studio dedicated to presenting work by artists from ECF and related communities.
Levine is currently an Associate Adjunct Professor at Otis College of Art and Design. She is also an accomplished visual artist whose recent solo exhibitions include presentations at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, in 2023 and the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, in Portland OR, which is currently on exhibit, through May 2026. Her artwork centers around collective healing and is informed by her own experiences of chronic pain and loss.

In her board service, Levine hopes to contribute to Creative Growth’s long-term financial sustainability, strategic vision, and advocacy efforts.

Levine also brings a strong ethic of civic engagement . Raised in a family deeply committed to public service, she has long understood the importance of advocating alongside communities on the margins, and she intends to carry that ethic forward. 
 

For press inquiries and interview requests, contact jackie@creativegrowth.org. 

High-resolution images and press kit available upon request.