Kumani Gantt Named Next Executive Director of the
Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas
Today the Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas' (CD Forum) Board
of Directors announced that Kumani Gantt has been chosen as the CD Forum's new
Executive Director following a national search. Since 2004, Gantt has been the Executive and Artistic Director of
The Village of Arts and Humanities, a nationally recognized arts organization
in North Philadelphia. She will begin her position at the CD Forum in July. Ms.
Gantt succeeds founder Stephanie Ellis-Smith who stepped down from the post on
May 31, 2009 after a remarkable decade long tenure.
"Kumani
emerged from an impressive pool of candidates as the clear choice to manage the
CD Forum as it transitions from a small, local non-profit to a regional
institution," said Leslie Womack, chair of the CD Forum board. "She
is a highly-regarded and seasoned arts leader whose vision for presenting
innovative African-American arts and culture is perfectly aligned with our
mission. We are thrilled to welcome her
to our outstanding team."
This is a
return to the Northwest area for Gantt, who is an alumna of the exclusive local
Hedgebrook writer’s retreat. She is an award-winning and active playwright,
performer and poet, and while leading the Village of Arts and Humanities, Gantt
helped impact more than 7,000 youth and local families while managing more than
600 volunteers and community members.
“Like
so many others, I was impressed when I learned about the CD Forum and its
innovative work,” said Gantt. “I've
spent the last 15 years seeking ways to challenge stereotypes, with a
commitment to ideas, issues and artistic endeavors that focus on what it means
to be African-American. I want to thank
Leslie Womack, Janet Sedlock Wallace (chair of the search task force and CD Forum
board member), and the board for providing me with this incredible opportunity
to pursue this vision and work with such an exemplary staff, while building on
the solid foundation of excellence created by Ms. Ellis-Smith.”
Gantt joins
the CD Forum as it prepares to launch a landmark 10th anniversary
season, during an exciting time in its growth.
Despite the challenges of the current economic climate, the organization
exceeded its 2008 annual campaign goal by 30%. At its celebrated annual gala
fundraiser, Food As Art held April 18, 2009, contributions during the evening
doubled from the previous year and the base of community support for CD Forum’s
mission and programs continues to grow.
During
Gantt's tenure with the Village, she garnered new organizational support
including increasing funding sources, and expanding the artistic direction.
Under her artistic direction, the Village worked with a variety of artists
including teens from the Bokamoso Youth Center of Winterveldt, South Africa;
poet Sonia Sanchez; dance ensemble, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange; and composer and
vocalist, Dr. Ysaye Maria Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock.
Prior to
joining the Village, Gantt was the director of Theater for a New Generation, a
project of Center Stage in Baltimore, MD that is designed to expand the
theater's young audience between the ages of 14 to 30. Gantt is also a founding
board member of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, and has served as a
panelist for the Maryland State Arts Council and the Baltimore Office of
Promotion and the Arts.
“Seattle
is a great cultural city with lots happening from a multidisciplinary frame,”
said Gantt. “It’s a community that prides itself on its history of
progressiveness and innovation. During
this provocative time in our nation, and with the continued support of the
community, the CD Forum will maintain and grow its work at the forefront of
engaging African-Americans and the city at-large, through both the humanities
and performing arts.”
Along with
being an alumna of the Hedgebrook and Norcroft Writers Retreats, Gantt earned a
BA in Political Science/Urban Affairs from Goucher College and a MFA in Theatre
from Towson University. Born in
Philadelphia and raised in Joppa, Maryland, she will move to Seattle this summer.