The New England Foundation For The Arts Names Harold Steward As Next Executive Director

Steward, a philosopher, strategist, and educator, is currently the executive director & cultural strategist at The Theatre Offensive.

Adam Chanler-Berat, Mary Testa, Tally Sessions, and More Will Lead A NEW BRAIN at Barrington Stage Company

The New England Foundation for the Arts announced that Harold Steward (they/he) will join the organization as the next executive director.

Steward, a philosopher, strategist, and educator, is currently the executive director & cultural strategist at The Theatre Offensive (TTO), a Boston-based nonprofit organization that presents liberating art by, for, and about queer and trans people of color that transcends artistic boundaries, celebrates cultural abundance, and dismantles oppression. They previously served as manager of the South Dallas Cultural Center, which provides instruction and enrichment in the arts with an emphasis on the African contribution to world culture. They will officially join NEFA on July 10, 2023.

"We are delighted to have Harold join NEFA in this role," said NEFA board chair John Henry. "Their wealth of experience in the arts, cultural equity, leadership, strategy, and fundraising is essential to further NEFA's mission to invest in artists and communities and foster equitable access to the arts. We are excited for the vision and energy that Harold will bring to our programs and services."

"NEFA plays an important role in the cultural landscape of New England and nationally," said Harold Steward. "It is exciting to have this opportunity to lead an organization of this scale whose values align with my own, and where I can bring my experience to bear alongside the dedicated NEFA staff and board."

Steward's appointment follows an extensive nationwide search led by a search committee, co-chaired by NEFA board members Carrie Zaslow and Michael Bobbitt, working with Arts Consulting Group. Steward will succeed Cathy Edwards, who held the role from January 2015 until she stepped down in May 2022. Since then, NEFA has been led by interim executive director/COO Jug Chokshi in partnership with deputy director, programs Jane Preston and in collaboration with other senior staff.

"NEFA has known Harold as a grantee, an arts practitioner, and a cultural equity advisor for a number of years, and we welcome Harold's leadership," said Jug Chokshi, interim executive director/COO. "We are ready to embark on the next chapter of NEFA's work."

About Harold Steward

Harold Steward (they/he) is a cultural strategist from Dallas, TX. They joined The Theater Offensive in Boston as the managing director in June of 2017 and currently serves as executive director & cultural strategist and oversees all operational and artistic functions of the organization. Harold most recently served as manager of the South Dallas Cultural Center, a division of the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, which provides instruction and enrichment in the arts with an emphasis on the African contribution to world culture.

In 2009, Harold founded Fahari Arts Institute in Dallas after recognizing a gap in the landscape for local LGBTQ artists of color in Dallas. Fahari Arts Institute celebrated, displayed, and produced the work of queer artists from the African Diaspora.

Harold is a member of the board of directors of Theater Communications Group where they are the co-chair of the equity, diversity and inclusion committee. Harold is also the board treasurer for the National Performance Network and serves as the board clerk for MassCreative. They are also a steering committee member of the Black Theater Commons. Harold is also a founding member of NextGen National Arts Network and founding partner of Steward Cultural Development Group.

Steward served as a cultural equity facilitator with Equity Quotient and an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Theater Studies at Emerson College where his current research interests include The Queer Trap Aesthetic in American Theatre and Identity Reclamation-The process in which oppressed individuals reclaim agency over their identity through cultural production.

About NEFA

The New England Foundation for the Arts invests in artists and communities and fosters equitable access to the arts, enriching the cultural landscape in New England and the nation. NEFA accomplishes this by granting funds to artists and cultural organizations; connecting them to each other and their audiences; and analyzing their economic contributions. NEFA serves as a regional partner for the National Endowment for the Arts, New England's state arts agencies, and private foundations. Learn more at www.nefa.org.



RELATED STORIES - Boston

The Coolidge's Science On Screen Returns To The Rose Kennedy Greenway This Summer

The Coolidge Corner Theatre announced that it will once again take its popular Science on Screen series on the road this summer, partnering with the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy for free, outdoor 35mm screenings of three films.

Doris Dear Will Premiere New Show 'Doris Dear's Gurl Talk 'Slightly Sondheim'' At The Provincetown Cabaret Festival

Doris Dear, acclaimed as 'America's Perfect Housewife' and a three-time Telly Award winner, is set to captivate audiences once again with her all-new show, 'Doris Dear's Gurl Talk 'Slightly Sondheim.'' The highly anticipated performance will take place at The Crown and Anchor's Cabaret Room on Thursday, June 8th, at 7:30 pm.

Boston Landmarks Orchestra Announces Summer 2023 Performances

Boston Landmarks Orchestra, under the direction of Music Director Christopher Wilkins, brings its annual summer series of free, live orchestral concerts to the iconic DCR Hatch Memorial Shell on the Esplanade, with a special focus on concerts in Dorchester, Roxbury, Hyde Square, and Chelsea.

Review: THE HAPPIEST MAN ON EARTH at Barrington Stage Company

St. Germain, Lagomarsino, and Tigar have woven a tight presentation that despite the often-unthinkable subject matter, intersperses a pleasantry, and even a chuckle or two. The audience is undeniably moved as evidenced by the audible responses of shock and disgust. Often taking us to the edge without going too far.


Videos


#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The Color Purple
The Umbrella Arts Center (5/12-6/04)Tracker
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Julia Watkins: Cirque
Wilbur Fiske Haven House (7/07-7/08)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Prayer for the French Republic
Huntington Theatre (9/07-10/08)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Mackenzie Lee Clement
Wilbur Fiske Haven House (6/02-6/02)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The Normal Heart
THE BLACK BOX THEATER AT THE MOSESIAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS (6/21-7/09)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# A Conversation with Ira Glass & Jad Abumrad
Emerson Colonial Theatre (9/30-9/30)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Camelot
The Cape Playhouse (8/16-8/26)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Chicago
The Company Theatre (7/13-7/15)CAST
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Brian Regan
The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts (11/02-11/02)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Jenny Lind Presents PT Barnum
Wilbur Fiske Haven House (7/02-7/04)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You