PORT TOWNSEND — An arts manager for more than 25 years from Sonoma, Calif., has been hired as Centrum’s new executive director.
John MacElwee, who most recently worked as lead consultant in developing the business plan for the $120 million Green Music Center at Rohnert Park, Calif., was selected from a field of 45 applicants around the U.S.
Centrum, an arts and education organization based at Fort Worden State Park, announced the hire Tuesday night.
“I am thrilled to join Centrum at this critical juncture in its nearly 40-year history — not only in ensuring that its wide and varied programs for aspiring and established artists remain strong, but also in looking ahead at all the collaborative possibilities and performance opportunities both at Fort Worden State Park and in Port Townsend, which together comprise a truly magical corner of the world,” said MacElwee.
Centrum Board President Libby Reid said MacElwee is “the perfect fit for our organization and will provide the strong leadership needed in such challenging times as these.”
Detroit Symphony Chairman Emeritus Peter D. Cummings describes MacElwee as “the best nonprofit marketer I ever worked with.”
MacElwee is expected to begin work at Centrum in April.¬Â
He succeeds Thatcher Bailey, who has moved into a new role in cooperation with Washington State Parks to develop an expanded vision for the Fort Worden State Park and Centrum as a lifelong learning center.
Marketing experience
MacElwee’s career began with orchestra marketing, fundraising and community relations with symphony orchestras, including the Pacific Symphony in Orange County, Calif., later with the Houston Symphony and then with the Detroit Symphony, where he served as vice president for marketing and communications.
In an interview Wednesday, MacElwee cited among his greatest accomplishments a fundraiser in Detroit, where he helped create a template for fundraising in celebration of African-American composers and musicians.
“I put a committee together to get the African-American community to help with fundraising for first time,” he said.
“I just stood back and let it take its own life.”
That gala event today raises $200,000 a year, he said.
Another achievement he noted was “establishing a small jazz and blues festival for a tough neighborhood in Detroit.”
During his tenure in Detroit, where he brought ticket sales to their highest levels, MacElwee also initiated two community-based jazz programs as part of the orchestra’s outreach programming.
He later moved to the directorship of the Arts Council of Sonoma County, Calif., where he worked with a broad array of community arts programs.
MacElwee has extensive experience in the performing arts and community development consulting field, where most recently¬ he was lead consultant in developing the business plan for the Green Music Center, scheduled to open in 2011.
Organization consultant
He also serves as an organizational consultant to the Healdsburg, Calif., Jazz Festival.
He served in a similar capacity with Santa Rosa Main Street.
Throughout his management career, MacElwee continues to perform as a bass player with varied jazz ensembles, as well as orchestras and bluegrass groups.
After earning his undergraduate degree, he studied bass with the late Homer Mensch of the Juilliard School of Music in New York City.
Centrum is now in the 36th year of presenting arts workshops, festivals and K-12 education programs at Fort Worden State Park.
These include, among others The Young Artist Project, Artist Residencies, The Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Jazz Port Townsend, Port Townsend Writers Conference and Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival.
MacElwee said he learned about the opening at Centrum from Jazz Port Townsend Artistic Director John Clayton.
In his new position, MacElwee said, he would reach out to the community once he moves to Port Townsend, seeking comments and ideas.
“With the economy the way it is, there’s a real need to assure that these programs are going to carry on for 10, 20 and 30 years,” he said, adding that he would be examining Fort Worden State Park “and all the possibilities that can be tapped there. There’s a lot that’s out there, and there has been some good strategic thinking that’s happened.”
He said education would continue to be important to Centrum.
MacElwee said he hopes to build on income through contributions and earn addition revenues for Centrum.
SDLqI am very much interested in community development of the arts,” he said.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
