Emerging Arts Leaders

Wednesday March 21, 2007
Capitol Hill Arts Center, Lower Level
6:30 – 8:30 pm
Business models for the arts are changing rapidly. We are fast blurring the lines between for-profit and non-profit, artist and audience, arts and entertainment. Join us March 21st for a Creative Conversation with the founders of three innovative companies that are exploring what it means to be a 21st Century arts organization.

Moderators:

Michael Seiwerath, Executive Director, NW Film Forum (nwfilmforum.org)
Michael Seiwerath has worked at the Northwest Film Forum since 1996 and has held nearly every position in the organization. He was a film curator for more than six years, putting together retrospectives of filmmakers as diverse as Sergio Leone, Max Ophuls and Budd Boetticher. As Executive Director of NWFF he oversees all aspects film exhibition, education and film production divisions of the organization. In addition, he acts as Executive Producer on all Start-to-Finish feature film productions, including Buffalo Bill’s Defunct and Hedda Gabler, both of which premiered in 2004 at the Seattle International Film Festival, Police Beat which premiered in the Dramatic Competition at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, and David Russo’s forthcoming project#2, which will begin shooting in late 2006. Michael oversaw all aspects of the construction of the new NWFF cinematheque. He has served on national panels and juries for the National Endowment for the Arts, Creative Capital, and the Slamdance and Sundance Film Festivals.

Hallie Kuperman, Owner, Century Ballroom (centuryballroom.com)
Hallie Kuperman has been the owner of the Century Ballroom and Restaurant since its inception in 1997; she is also one of its primary dance instructors. Prior to owning the Century she was a Production Stage Manager and Lighting Designer, working nationally and internationally in theatre, dance and opera.

Josh LaBelle, Executive Director, Seattle Theatre Group (theparamount.com)
Josh LaBelle has served as the Executive Director of the Seattle Theatre Group (STG) since the spring of 2001. Prior to assuming leadership of the organization, he spent the previous five years directing programming and overseeing operations for STG’s historic theatres, The Paramount and The Moore.

During Josh’s ten years with STG, he was an integral part of the team that took the stewardship of these theatres from a then for-profit business under the moniker of the Seattle Landmark Association to the not-for-profit STG. This effort included installing a board of directors and an advisory board and refining the vision, goals and strategic plan of the newly formed not-for-profit.

Before joining STG, Josh spent several years working as a musician where he had the opportunity to record and tour alongside such legends as T-Bone Burnett and Sam Phillips. Yet, the roots of his music career can be traced back to the four years he spent with the William Morris Agency in Los Angeles. At William Morris, he started out in the mailroom and eventually moved up to the Music Division where he assisted agents and booked concerts.

Future Conversations:

Part II: Advocacy in a Changing Market
Wednesday May 23, 2007
6:30 – 8:30 pm

Part III: Creative/Adaptive Space and Facility Models
Wednesday July 11, 2007
6:30 – 8:30 pm

Taking Stock – Presentation of Creative Conversations for Arts and Humanities Month
Wednesday October 10, 2007
6:30 – 8:30 pm

For more information, contact:
Paige Weinheimer
Paige.Weinheimer@4culture.org
Phone: 206.296.8605
Fax: 206.296.8629