Amy Nesbitt to lead programming at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Following a national search, Scottsdale Arts has hired Amy Nesbitt as its new director of performing arts.
Currently the executive and artistic director of the annual Ann Arbor Summer Festival (A2SF) in Ann Arbor, Mich., Nesbitt will lead the programming team at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and curate its year-round season of music, dance, theater, comedy, film and family events. She will assume the programming duties of the Center’s former director, Ally Haynes-Hamblen, who was named director of cultural affairs for the City of Las Vegas earlier this year. Nesbitt will begin her new position at Scottsdale Arts in August.
“Amy Nesbitt brings exceptional qualifications and experience to Scottsdale Arts,” said President and CEO Neale Perl. “Her deep knowledge of the performing arts, strong management skills and collaborative approach will be great assets to our organization. We look forward to working with Amy, and to an exciting and inspiring new season at the Center.”
At the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Nesbitt is responsible for all aspects of artistic programming, event planning and executive management. She joined the festival in 2007 as operations manager, and has served as the festival’s general manager, and associate and interim director. Nesbitt has worked for A2SF for 11 seasons and directed it for the past four, presenting a diverse lineup of local, national and international multi-disciplinary performers at both indoor and outdoor venues. Hundreds of artists have been presented at the festival under her leadership, with highlights including Trombone Shorty, Circa, k.d. lang, Andrew Bird, Gilberto Gil, Pink Martini, Lily Tomlin and France’s Transe Express. Among her accomplishments, Nesbitt has helped expand A2SF’s programming, partnerships and community engagement to encompass 175 events during its month-long season, attracting an audience of more than 80,000.
“Scottsdale Arts offers remarkable creative and collaborative opportunities across many artistic disciplines,” Nesbitt said. “I’m excited to join their excellent team and to share new performing arts experiences – from renowned marquee artists to emerging talents – with this dynamic community.”
Before A2SF, Nesbitt served for seven years as both the Midwest and performing arts center agent at Fleming Artists agency, where she worked closely with a diverse roster of performers and presenters.
In addition to her performing arts experience, Nesbitt has worked extensively in video and film production in San Francisco and New Orleans. She won the 1997 New Orleans Film Festival’s Lumiere Award for “Best New Louisiana Filmmaker,” as well as the 1995 New Orleans Shorts Festival.
In 1993 Nesbitt founded and operated Video Veracity Inc. in New Orleans, a nonprofit organization that supports the work of independent media producers in that city and the surrounding region.
Nesbitt earned her B.F.A. from Syracuse University, and studied at Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Mich.
SCOTTSDALE ARTS
Through its partnership with the City of Scottsdale, the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts (formerly known as Scottsdale Cultural Council) creates diverse, inspired arts experiences and educational opportunities that foster active, lifelong community engagement with the arts. Since its founding in 1987, Scottsdale Arts has grown into a regionally and nationally significant, multi-disciplinary arts organization offering an exceptional variety of programs through three acclaimed divisions – Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) and Scottsdale Public Art – serving more than 400,000 participants annually.
HOW TO REACH US
Scottsdale Arts
7380 E. Second St.Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.ScottsdaleArts.org
480-499-TKTS (8587)