Arts Consulting Group (ACG) To Lead Search For Long Wharf Theatre's Next Artistic Director

Long Wharf Theatre has selected Arts Consulting Group (ACG) to conduct the search for its next artistic director.

The search committee made the choice, which was shared with the Board of Trustees and the staff earlier this week. The first informational interviews with theatre staff will start next week. The goal is to have a new artistic director in place in early 2019.

"There is a clear and refreshing movement across the theatre world that is calling for a new air and way of doing things. It is no longer about one person's vision ending up on stage. Rather, we are now in the collective creativity business. We need to consider how multiple venues -- classrooms, libraries, lobbies, community rooms, cabarets and stages -- show off what we do, bring people together and challenge them to be their best selves," said Laura Pappano, chair of the Board of Trustees.

Shortly after the departure of the previous artistic director, the theatre formed a transition committee, which included both trustees and staff. It was charged with making decisions about the theatre's direction and structure. The committee made several recommendations, including that the next artistic director be collaborative in tone and nature and should live in or around greater New Haven.

The theatre then formed a separate search committee, and that group is using the transition committee's recommendations to guide its work and decision making. The search committee considered eight firms to conduct the artistic director search before selecting ACG. "All of us on the committee feel that ACG has the tools, mindset, and approach that gives us the best chance of finding an artistic director of great imagination, talent, and leadership," Pappano said.

"The ACG team is thrilled and honored to be working with Long Wharf Theatre at this critical moment in the theatre industry," said Bruce D. Thibodeau, president of ACG. "Embracing non-traditional, open, and multi-faceted approaches to executive search that are embedded in inclusion, diversity, equity, and access creates new opportunities for both the next generation of leaders and the communities their organizations serve."

Beyond considering qualifications required of top leaders, ACG focuses its clients on objectively prioritizing the unique soft skills needed to be successful in a position. This approach is complemented by deeply understanding the cultural competencies of the existing team and how prospective candidates could bring unique perspectives to the organization. Thibodeau added that "Top executive search firms today recognize the importance of minimizing unconscious hiring bias, using gender neutral language, and balancing qualitative and quantitative data to identify, cultivate, and recruit those who have the capacity to be great leaders."

For more information about Arts Consulting Group, visit artsconsulting.com.

For more information about Long Wharf Theatre, visit longwharf.org.