Is there something in the water? In the zeitgeist? We don’t know but we can say that this year many of Baltimore’s most venerable arts and cultural institutions are experiencing significant changes with respect to their leadership.
Here’s what you need to know about what’s happening in Charm City’s ever-evolving arts scene.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
In July, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of 29-year-old, American-born conductor Jonathon Heyward as music director and holder of the Harvey M. and Lyn P. Meyerhoff Chair.
Heyward replaces maestro Marin Alsop who left the orchestra at the close of the 2021-2021 season.
Heyward will be the first Black conductor to lead the orchestra in its 106-year history. He’s also the first Black American to lead a major U.S. symphony.
Before coming to the BSO, Heyward served as the chief conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie in Herford, Germany.
“It is a tremendous honor to join the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at this exciting time in its long and distinguished history,” Heyward said in a statement. “I believe we have a great opportunity to build on the storied achievements of the orchestra under Marin Alsop’s inspirational leadership and to explore the many ways in which we can reach the greatest number of people at home and overseas.
“I am passionate about the power of symphonic music to bring audiences together and to speak to all communities. The Baltimore Symphony’s irresistible artistry, energy and optimism were clear to me from the first moment we rehearsed together earlier this year. We shared a special chemistry then and, in the concerts, we have given since. I look forward to seeing where that can take us in the years ahead.”
Said BSO President and CEO Mark Hanson: “Appointing Jonathon Heyward as music director is both incredibly inspirational and aspirational. We are inspired by his artistry, passion and vision for the BSO, as well as for what his appointment means for budding musicians who will see themselves better reflected in such a position of artistic prominence. At the same time, he is a star on the rise, and his vibrant talent, bold programming and fervent commitment to community engagement will continue to grow our relationship with the many communities across Maryland.”
Baltimore Center Stage
Baltimore Center Stage recently welcomed Sarah Ashley Cain as its new director of artistic producing.
Cain, who replaced Chiara Klein, comes to Center Stage from her last position as artistic director of the Yale Cabaret in New Haven, Conn.
As outlined in a recent Center Stage press release, “In her role as director of artistic producing, Sarah will be responsible for a wide array of work that straddles both the operational and creative sides of theater-making.”
Said artistic director Stephanie Ybarra, who continues to lead Center Stage, “From our first conversation, the combination of intellect, compassion and artistic savvy Sarah carries in her work was evident. I’m thrilled to welcome her to Baltimore Center Stage to continue building our producing practices with joy, care and rigor.”
American Visionary Art Museum
After founding director Rebecca Alban Hoffberger retired earlier this year from her position at AVAM, it was hard to imagine who would fill her shoes.
But in March, the museum’s board of directors announced they had found her successor as the second director in AVAM’s 30-year history. Jenenne Whitfield, president & CEO of The Heidelberg Project in Detroit, will begin her new role in September.
“I am beyond thrilled to become part of the AVAM family,” Whitfield said in a statement. “What excites me most is that AVAM’s philosophy and visual aesthetics are beautifully aligned with what it means to be human and what we should strive for as a human race. Rebecca has done an extraordinary job of embracing, advancing and providing a place for the intuitive creative spirit to flourish and grow. I look forward to building upon her strong foundation by increasing AVAM’s visibility, building greater alliances and taking AVAM to its next level.”
And what does Hoffberger think of Whitfield’s appointment?
“Without reservation, and with unanimous AVAM board and staff accord, I have the utmost peace and joy in our rightful selection of Jenenne Whitfield as my successor,” she said. “Simply put, Jenenne has had her own stellar lifetime of preparation to lead AVAM. She cherishes and ‘gets’ all the key elements that have made AVAM such a healing and magic, beloved destination.”
Creative Alliance
In January, the Highlandtown-based Creative Alliance announced the appointment of a new executive director.
Gregory S. Smith is the third executive director in the 26-year history of the Creative Alliance.
A former actor, director and choreographer who most recently worked at Minnesota Public Radio and the Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul, Minn., Smith also brings strong business and community engagement skills to his new role.
Among the Creative Alliance’s upcoming projects will be the expansion of its Creativity Center, which provides arts and cultural education programming and resources to neighborhoods in the city.
“I am delighted to join such an amazing organization and be part of Baltimore,” said Smith. “The Creative Alliance has such a rich history, and I am joining at a time where the reach of the Creative Alliance is expanding. The organization’s mission, to be a catalyst for building stronger communities through the arts and with artists from diverse backgrounds, will expand with the new Creativity Center. The Creativity Center is a testament to the Creative Alliance’s commitment to the arts and the communities of Baltimore.”
Baltimore Museum of Art
Last spring, the Baltimore Museum of Art announced that Russell Reynolds Associates will work closely with the museum’s search committee, co-chaired by BMA board chair Clair Zamoiski Segal and trustee Darius Graham, to find a replacement for director Christopher Bedford.
Bedford left the position in June. Stay tuned for more information on this position.
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