Global Arts Live has selected Connie C. Chin as Executive Director, following an executive search process led by Arts Consulting Group (ACG). She will begin her tenure on July 26, 2021. Ms. Chin will succeed founder and current Executive Director Maure Aronson, who will transition to Director of Artistic Programs in a new co-leadership structure.
Ms. Chin is a seasoned executive who has held nonprofit leadership positions for two decades. For the past five years, she served as President of the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library, where she strengthened the organization’s financial position, fundraising, partnerships, curatorial work, and orientation to social and racial justice goals. As the General Manager for 12 seasons and as Marketing Director for three seasons at Jacob’s Pillow, she oversaw the complex operations of the international dance festival, school, archives, artist residencies, and community programs, including development, marketing, operations, education, human resources, and finance. She managed the 220-acre historic campus with two theaters and an outdoor performance space, helping to present more than 800 dance companies and engage dance audiences. Her career also includes work in consumer foods brand management at Ocean Spray and Kraft.
Ms. Chin is a former dancer who has performed internationally with Bill T. Jones, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Sin Cha Hong, Muna Tseng, and Fred Ho’s Asian American Arts Ensemble, among others. She is a board member of Boston Dance Alliance, a service organization supporting area dance artists. Her essay on how Asian American Pacific Islander stereotypes were fueled by popular culture despite the best intentions was recently published in Hyperallergic. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Harvard University and a master of business administration from Yale School of Management.
In making the announcement, Board Chairperson Nagesh Mahanthappa said, “We are thrilled to welcome Connie to Global Arts Live as our new Executive Director. Connie has built an impressive career in the nonprofit sector, a significant portion of which has been devoted to the performing arts. She brings a wealth of knowledge both as an artist herself and as an organizational leader to advance Global Arts Live well into the future.”
Founder and current Executive Director Maure Aronson added, “I am overjoyed to have Connie as a partner to lead Global Arts Live during this exciting time as we welcome back artists and audiences. Connie’s extensive performing arts management experience will be an excellent driver of our mission.”
“The extraordinary opportunity to join Maure, the talented staff team, Nagesh, and the board in bringing music and dance from international cultures to Greater Boston audiences and communities represents a return to a lifelong passion of mine,” said Ms. Chin. “I believe that the performing arts—especially as brought to life by Maure’s exceptional programming—offer a path to joy, awareness, and global understanding that could not be more important in helping to heal these times fractured by racial strife, the pandemic, polarized politics, and world crises. To come back to Cambridge to serve the performing arts is a lovely homecoming as I grew up as a person and a dancer right here.”
“Congratulations to Connie Chin on her appointment as Executive Director and to the Global Arts Live board and staff as they embark upon an exciting new phase of organizational vibrancy,” said ACG President Bruce D. Thibodeau. “Ms. Chin’s deep ties to the Greater Boston arts and culture scene, as well as new partnership with Maure Aronson, will help Global Arts Live flourish as the leading presenter of international performing arts in New England.”
July 2021