Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Senior Vice President of Artistic Planning and Veneus
December 2016 – Present
• Provides strategic leadership and direct oversight for the performing and visual arts activities of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust where an annual budget of $81 million translates into over 4,000 performances a year attracting 2 million patrons in one of the nation’s most vibrant Cultural Districts. Oversees operations and ensures programmatic diversity in over 30 venues throughout the Cultural District. Fosters and accelerates the robust offerings of the Cultural Trust’s presenting, producing, arts education, community engagement, festival, visual arts and film programs.
• Responsible for coordinating and creating synergistic opportunities for the Cultural District’s resident companies and arts partners, including: Arcade Comedy Theater, Bricolage, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Civic Light Opera, August Wilson Center for African American Culture, Pittsburgh Musical Theater, Pittsburgh Opera, Playwrights Theatre Company, Public Theater, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
• Led the organization through both strategic and operational scenario planning in response to the Covid-19 global pandemic. Collaborated with CEO and Board of Directors to create business plan to dramatically reduce expenses with focus on preserving the Trust’s human capital and preserving the historic district theaters and assets. Directed the Trust’s Senior Staff team in the creation of the Roadmap To Reopening, a detailed document outlining the step-by-step guide and business plan needed to restart artistic activities in the Cultural District. Successfully reopened all 30 downtown venues and restored all signature series in the five-month period culminating on October 1, 2021. Currently overseeing programming, operations & marketing initiatives to restore lines of business to pre-Covid levels of success.
• Since taking on this leadership role, the Trust’s modern dance series doubled its audience in part by attracting new college-aged and millennial patrons; the PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh series reached a 20-year high with subscribers growing from 8,000 to over 18,000 subscribers in under two years; the Cabaret Series saw record high attendance, doubling the number of performances in each engagement. The Children’s Theater Series experienced significant growth with the launch of a new teen series. Engagement with African American, Asian & Hispanic guests has reached an all time high with new performances offerings. Festivals have flourished.
• Serves as producer for the Trust’s Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts, a recurring eight-week festival featuring U.S., North American, and World Premieres. 2018 edition included over 500 performances from 30 international companies and artists from 20 countries the Festival included the most diverse group of creative artists to ever visit Pittsburgh under a single artistic banner. Festival included presentations from India, South America, Korea, France, Denmark, Haiti, Israel, China, Nigeria, Turkey, South Africa and more.
• Conceived, designed and launched a new theater venue dedicated to elevating the art of close-up magic. Located at 811 Liberty, on the same block where Harry Houdini mesmerized Pittsburgh crowds in 1916, Liberty Magic is an intimate, speakeasy performance space dedicated to commissioning and producing solo plays that are easy to access and hard to forget.
• Led the transition team to develop new management and operational procedures for the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, which spun off from the Trust to become an independently managed organization in 2018. Played a key role in demonstrating that the August Wilson Center could thrive as an arts hub dedicated to the mission of creating a home for extraordinary artist of color.
• Collaborates with the development team on the identification and cultivation of philanthropic, governmental and foundation gifts equaling over $10 million in fundraising each season. Helped launch new fundraising and membership programs like Pittsburgh Rewind, Cultured Cocktails, Footwork and a new multi-faceted $150M comprehensive campaign. Campaign currently $120M toward goal.
• Currently supervising the Trust’s food & beverage team members in the envisioning of an upgrade to the guest amenities including the piloting of new restaurant offerings, new menus at all concession locations, and the reimagining of the existing bar/lounge space into a signature food and beverage destination aligned with a national beverage brand based in the downtown Pittsburgh Area.
• Creative director for the development and renovation of neighborhood arts amenities. Ongoing projects include, revitalization of Allegheny Riverfront Park, renovation of the 250 seat Greer Cabaret, redesign of multi-use complex including two 100-seat theaters and one art gallery, development of new 2 acre outdoor common called Festival Square, creation of intimate immersive theater venue in the district, 600 seat live music and special event function venue, which will include new pre-show dining restaurant & bar. Currently commissioning three major outdoor public art sculptures by international artists who identify as BIPOC.
• Building on a decade of strategic planning experience, helped shape the Cultural Trust’s current three-year Strategic Plan, bringing a focus to the Guest Experience Cycle, a major three-year initiative which will have a profound impact on the Trust’s approach to engagement with guests throughout the Cultural District.