West Roxbury Resident Named Director of Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events

West Roxbury resident Christopher Cook has been named the City’s Director of Arts, Tourism & Special Events. Cook had been serving in an interim capacity since September 2010.

“Chris has done a fantastic job for the City of Boston, and he has shown the leadership qualities necessary to take on the task,” said Mayor Thomas Menino via press release. “From organizing victory parades, to promoting our great city as a tourist attraction, to bringing out the best of the cultural and arts communities, he has done it all. I am thankful that our city has him.”

As the director, Cook is responsible for providing advocacy, promotion, technical assistance and funding for the cultural community and visitor industry. 

“I’m thrilled, both by the Mayor’s confidence in me and that I get to serve a cultural community as unique as Boston’s,” said Cook via press release.

Cook, 35, has been with the office since 2007 and previously served as director of of Arts, Education and Outreach for the office. He has also worked as a project coordinator in the Arts Departmentof the Boston Public Schools.

The Arts, Tourism & Special Events office organizes visual and performing arts, parades, feasts and festivals, charity walks, and races. It also oversees the Stand Theater in Dorchester, the city Film Bureau, the Boston Cultural Council, and programs like the Sister City initiative.