Alliance for the Arts Names New Director

They searched all over the country, only to find what they were looking for right next door.

The Alliance for the Arts, the fund-raising arm of the Civic Arts Plaza, has named Patricia Eisele Moore of Westlake Village as its executive director following a nationwide search.

Moore’s main responsibility will be to develop the financial resources of the nonprofit group, which has pledged to raise $15 million by 1998 to support the performing arts center.

Moore, who now sits on the group’s board of directors, helped raise more than $23 million for the Wharton Performing Arts Center in East Lansing, Mich. She also coordinated the West Coast capital campaign for Michigan State University, which exceeded its nationwide $160 million goal by $58 million. And currently, she is assisting Childhelp USA with public awareness and ongoing efforts to raise $6 million to $10 million annually.

So far, the Alliance has raised more than $10.8 million toward its goal. But the group is involved in a legal battle with its largest donor--reclusive millionaire Charles E. Probst--over his refusal to deliver on a $2-million pledge.

Susan Adkins, assistant to the executive director, said she will miss Cheryl Collart), who filled the position on an interim basis while the search for a full-time director was conducted.