UIS Performing Arts Center Director Bryan Rives to Retire, Sarah Brewer Named Interim

The University of Illinois Springfield announces that Bryan Rives, Director of the UIS Performing Arts Center, will retire effective June 30, 2026, concluding nine years of impactful leadership and service to the performing arts center, the campus and central Illinois community.

During his tenure, Rives has played a vital role in elevating the UIS Performing Arts Center as a premier destination for arts and entertainment, while strengthening relationships with patrons, donors, and community partners. His leadership has helped guide the organization through growth and transformation, including the completion of a major facility renovation this summer.

“My time at the University of Illinois Springfield has really been about the people—getting to work alongside such a talented and committed team, with the support of a university that truly values the performing arts, and a community that has stepped up in a meaningful way as donors and supporters,” said Rives. “The growth of the UIS Performing Arts Center over these past nine years is a reflection of that shared effort, along with the strong foundation built by the directors who came before me. With the renovation wrapping up this summer, it feels like the right time to pass leadership to the next director, who can build on that momentum and continue moving the center forward as a leading venue in the community.”

In conjunction with Rives' retirement, Sarah Brewer has been appointed Interim Director of UIS Performing Arts Services, effective July 1, 2026. The interim appointment is expected to last one to two years while a national search is conducted for a permanent director.

Brewer brings a strong background in backstage operations, producing, and fundraising, along with extensive experience leading large teams and managing multi-million-dollar budgets. She has demonstrated success in building meaningful relationships with patrons and donors, positioning her well to lead the UIS Performing Arts Center during this transitional period.

“I want to thank Bryan Rives for his leadership and service to the UIS Performing Arts Center over the past nine years,” said Janet L. Gooch, chancellor of the University of Illinois Springfield. “His leadership is defined by strategic modernization and stewardship, organizational growth, a strong commitment to community impact and accessibility and an emphasis on inclusion and innovative programming. Through his work, he has strengthened the center's role as a vital cultural resource in central Illinois.”