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- A Trio Of Prominent Art Critics Has Just Retired. Here’s What We’ve Lost
The trio were not only the most influential, but also the most gainfully employed—two factors that have everything to do with each other. – ARTnews
- Presidio Theatre seeks Executive Director
Organization
Presidio Theatre is a nonprofit performing arts center and cultural destination dedicated to presenting high-quality live performances and fostering vibrant artistic experiences for the San Francisco Bay Area. Located within the Presidio of San Francisco, a National Historic Landmark and one of the most visited sites in the National Park Service, the Presidio Theatre serves as a dynamic venue for music, theatre, dance, film, and multidisciplinary events. Presidio Theatre’s mission is to ensure that the magic of live performance is accessible to the entire community. By reawakening an architectural jewel in the Presidio and creating a professionally run venue that reflects the rich diversity of the Bay Area, the Presidio Theatre encourages artists to grow and flourish. With a focus on accessibility and community engagement, Presidio Theatre brings together local, regional, national, and international artists while providing a welcoming space where audiences can experience the transformative power of live performance.
Revitalized as an architectural and cultural asset, Presidio Theatre operates as a 612-seat venue with an adjacent outdoor event plaza, offering a flexible and inviting setting for a wide range of performances and gatherings. The organization prioritizes partnerships with local arts organizations and resident companies, supporting them in presenting programming, expanding audiences, and advancing their artistic work. Its seasonal offerings reflect the breadth of the performing arts, featuring acclaimed musicians, dance companies, theatrical productions, films, and world premieres, alongside collaborations with community-based organizations that deepen local engagement and participation.
The Presidio Theatre’s programming spans genres and cultures, from film, jazz, classical, and global music to contemporary dance, circus arts, and innovative theatrical productions. The Presidio Theatre’s annual Panto in the Presidio (Panto) has become its flagship production with consistent audience demand and citywide recognition. Now attracting more than 14,000 attendees annually, the Panto has become deeply associated with the Presidio Theatre’s public identity and serves as a major driver of community engagement. The Presidio Theatre regularly hosts internationally recognized artists and ensembles while also serving as a home for Bay Area organizations, creating a balanced ecosystem of presenting and rental activity. Through initiatives such as resident company partnerships and membership programs, Presidio Theatre fosters a sense of community and connection, offering audiences meaningful opportunities to engage with artists and the creative process.
Through its commitment to artistic excellence, accessibility, and collaboration, Presidio Theatre plays a vital role in San Francisco’s cultural landscape. By providing a platform for distinct voices and creative expression, the Theatre not only supports the growth of artists and arts organizations but also strengthens the broader community’s connection to the performing arts, reinforcing its position as a cornerstone of cultural life in the Bay Area.
Presidio Theatre currently has a four-member board of directors led by Chair Peggy Haas. The Executive Director reports to the Board and has six direct reports, including Concessions, Box Office Manager, Director of Development, Director of Programming, Senior Technical Director, and the Interim Director of Communications. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Presidio Theatre’s financial statements reported a total operating budget of $5.2 million, and the operating budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, is $6.9 million. The operating budget for Panto for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, was $1.7 million, and the operating budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, is $2.9 million.
Sources: edited from presidiotheatre.org; propublica.org
Community
Situated on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, San Francisco is a globally recognized city known for its rich history, vibrant population, and dynamic civic and cultural life. As both a city and a county, San Francisco serves as a major economic, cultural, and governmental hub for the region. The city is home to a population of over 800,000 residents and is characterized by its distinct neighborhoods, historic landmarks, and strong commitment to public services, equity, and sustainability. Its location along the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, combined with its compact urban form, contributes to a highly walkable and transit-oriented environment that connects residents and visitors across the city.
San Francisco offers an exceptional quality of life shaped by its unique geography, robust public infrastructure, and vibrant communities. The city features an extensive network of parks, open spaces, and waterfront areas, alongside a comprehensive public transportation system that includes buses, light rail, and regional connections. Its neighborhoods, ranging from historic districts to emerging cultural corridors, provide a mix of housing, commerce, and community amenities. The city is also a major destination for tourism, drawing visitors from around the world to its iconic sites, scenic vistas, and rich culinary and commercial offerings.
Arts and culture are integral to San Francisco’s identity, supported by a wide range of public programs, cultural institutions, and community-based initiatives. The city invests in arts and cultural development through public funding, policy, and partnerships that promote access, equity, and creative expression. Cultural organizations, artists, and residents contribute to a thriving ecosystem that reflects the city’s innovation. Through its commitment to civic engagement, inclusion, and the arts, San Francisco continues to foster a vibrant cultural landscape that enriches community life and positions the city as a leading center for creativity and cultural exchange.
Sources: www.sf.gov; census.gov
Position Summary
The Executive Director will serve as the chief executive officer and primary strategic and operational leader of the Presidio Theatre, working in close partnership with the Board of Directors to advance the organization’s mission and ensure long-term financial sustainability. The Executive Director will guide all aspects of the Presidio Theatre’s administrative, marketing, financial, and programmatic functions, developing comprehensive business and operating plans that position the Presidio Theatre primarily as a vibrant venue for local arts organizations. The Executive Director will design and implement a dynamic booking strategy that balances programming, maximizes facility usage, and attracts broad audiences and community partners, while elevating the Presidio Theatre’s brand and visibility across the Bay Area.
The Executive Director will oversee all operational policies and procedures, including scheduling, rentals, box office operations, marketing, production, and guest services, fostering an environment that is welcoming and accessible to artists, audiences, and renters. In collaboration with the Board, the Executive Director will develop and manage annual and multi-year budgets, strengthen financial systems, and lead a comprehensive fundraising initiative encompassing individual, corporate, foundation, and government support.
Roles and Responsibilities
External Relations & Representation
• Collaborate with the Board of Directors to advance a clear strategic vision that supports access, community engagement, and financial sustainability.
• Serve as a visible and enthusiastic ambassador for the Presidio Theatre across the Bay Area and within the Presidio.
• Oversee Board recruitment and development in partnership with the board chair and the existing Board of Directors.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local government, business, civic, and arts organizations.
• Position the Presidio Theatre as a vital cultural resource that responds to community needs through the performing arts.
• Embrace other external relations and representation responsibilities as needed.Strategic Operations
• Develop and implement comprehensive business and operating plans for current and future seasons.
• Design and execute a booking strategy that prioritizes local arts organizations, ensures a variety of programming, and maximizes daily usage of the facility.
• Establish and refine policies and procedures for scheduling, rentals, box office, production, marketing, media, and hospitality.
• Foster a welcoming, user-friendly environment for audiences, artists, and rental partners.
• Embrace additional strategic operations responsibilities as needed.Financial Stewardship & Resource Development
• Develop annual and multi-year operating budgets in partnership with the Board and monitor performance against financial goals.
• Strengthen fiscal policies, financial systems, and internal controls.
• Drive earned revenue through rentals, ticket sales, sponsorships, and other income streams.
• Lead and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies across individual, corporate, foundation, and government sources in partnership with the director of development.
• Embrace other financial stewardship and resource development responsibilities as needed.Artistic & Program Strategy
• Advance Presidio Theatre’s role as a premier venue for local, regional, and visiting arts organizations.
• Ensure balanced, high-quality programming that attracts broad audiences and reflects a wide range of artistic disciplines.
• Promote and strengthen the Presidio Theatre’s artistic identity while advancing the founder’s vision of championing Bay Area artists.
• Embrace additional artistic and program strategy responsibilities as needed.Partnerships & Community Connection
• Serve as the primary liaison between the Presidio Theatre and the Presidio Trust, ensuring compliance and a strong working relationship.
• Engage community stakeholders to identify partnerships and expand access to the arts.
• Cultivate and strengthen relationships that support audience development and deepen community engagement.
• Nurture long-term artistic relationships to position Presidio Theatre as a collaborative partner.
• Embrace other partnerships and community connection responsibilities as needed.Team Leadership & Organizational Development
• Assess organizational structure and identify personnel needs aligned with strategic priorities.
• Oversee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and professional development of staff.
• Lead, motivate, supervise, and evaluate staff to foster a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Mentor staff to enhance core competencies and leadership readiness, driving the creation of a sustainable succession plan.
• Embrace other team leadership and organizational development responsibilities as needed.Traits and Characteristics
The Executive Director of Presidio Theatre will be a highly interactive and people-oriented leader who excels at building rapport and fostering meaningful relationships with artists, audiences, donors, staff, board members, and community partners. Customer- and community-centered, they will prioritize creating engaging and responsive experiences that reflect the needs and expectations of constituents while advancing Presidio Theatre’s mission and visibility. Versatile and adaptable, they will navigate a dynamic environment with ease, balancing strategic priorities with day-to-day operational demands. Guided by a harmonious and collaborative approach, they will value various perspectives, approach work with patience, humility, and a willingness to learn, and cultivate a supportive and inclusive organizational culture. Drawing on experience, intuition, and thoughtful judgment, they will make informed decisions while remaining open to learning and new ideas. Grounded in an altruistic orientation, they will lead with empathy, service, and a deep commitment to enriching the community through the performing arts.
Other key competencies include:
• Teamwork and Diplomacy – The capability to cooperate with others to meet objectives while effectively and tactfully handling difficult or sensitive issues.
• Conflict Management – The organizational acumen to understand, address, and resolve conflicts constructively.
• Personal Accountability – The capacity to be answerable for personal actions.
• Customer Focus – The aptitude to anticipate, meet, and/or exceed customer needs, wants, and expectations.
• Leadership – The ability to organize and influence people to believe in a vision while creating a sense of purpose and direction.
• Employee Development/Coaching – The competence to facilitate, support, and contribute to the professional growth of others.Qualifications
An undergraduate degree in arts administration, nonprofit management, or a related field is desired, along with demonstrated leadership experience in the performing arts or nonprofit sector. The ideal candidate will bring a strong record of success in operating a theatre or cultural venue as a community resource, with broad knowledge of performing arts, film, and speaker programming, and proven experience in theatre and facilities management, audience development, fundraising, and financial oversight. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to build organizational infrastructure within a growing nonprofit, effectively engage and partner with a board of directors, and lead, develop, and motivate staff. A track record of securing significant support through sponsorships, major gifts, and foundation grants is essential, along with strong budgeting and financial management skills. The candidate will possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, a commitment to equity, inclusion, and access, and the ability to work effectively with artists, audiences, and community stakeholders, while bringing a collaborative, entrepreneurial, and solutions-oriented leadership style grounded in empathy, sound judgment, and professionalism.
Compensation and Benefits
Presidio Theatre provides a competitive and equitable compensation package with an estimated base salary in the range of $200,000 to $220,000. Benefits include access to a comprehensive health insurance program through CaliforniaChoice, offering a range of HMO and PPO plan options from leading providers, with the employer contributing approximately 80% of the premium cost for employees. Additional benefits include paid time off, holidays, and relocation assistance.
Applications and Inquiries
To submit a cover letter and resume with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments (electronic submissions preferred), please visit https://artsconsulting.com/opensearches/presidio-theatre-seeks-executive-director/
The Presidio Theatre welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, race,
gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or national origin. - Dance Is Getting Its Moment – In Advertising
Why so much dance on TV lately? “Where the goal is to quickly get and then hold the viewer’s attention, energetic movement is a straightforward strategy. Dance’s graphic elements immediately catch the eye, and they can make that gaze linger.” – Dance Magazine
- Newer Streamers, Even Ones From Well-Established Channels, Hope For An Emmy Boost
Peacock and Paramount+ have high hopes. “Emmy success can still bring tangible benefits. Even the commitment to campaigning can move the needle, especially for two streamers looking to recruit more talent to their ranks.” – Los Angeles Times (Yahoo)
- Ranking All Twenty-Two Films That Were In Contention For The Palme D’Or This Year
“The experience of watching so many movies over a twelve-day period coaxes your brain into a heightened state of pattern recognition, and you might begin to wonder if certain films have been programmed based on narrative and thematic similarities.” – The New Yorker
- Oakland Creatives Are Having A (Possibly Long Overdue) Heck Of A Year
“The Town has seen its homegrown talent reach new levels of success on the global stage, from figure skater Alysa Liu earning Olympic gold in Milan to filmmaker Ryan Coogler winning four Oscars for his blockbuster Sinners and R&B powerhouse Kehlani receiving two Grammy Awards.” – San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
- A Deeper Dive Into How That Book About The Problems Of AI Was Partly Created By AI
Um, ouf? “He doubled down on his personal commitment to AI, noting that he still uses it every day. … I asked him whether he would rather stop writing than stop using AI in his writing process. ‘Yeah,’ he answered.” – Wired
- Over The Weekend, The British Museum Was Evacuated After Staff Found A ‘Suspicious’ Package
“The museum said it had also received what it described as ‘malicious communications’ before the evacuation.” – ARTnews
- If We’re Really In A Reading ‘Crisis,’ Here Are Some Solutions
It’s not about the phones. Instead, as a society, we have to remove structural barriers – and build new libraries. “A democracy needs its people to read, and it is society’s job to make that possible.” – The New York Times
- Turns Out If You Let YouTube Turn Into Feature Films, Kids Will Go To The Cinema
Well, not kids, but youth, YouTube youth. “The success of two YouTube-native filmmakers at the box office indicates the growing power of the platform — and online culture as a whole — in attracting audiences to cinemas.” – Los Angeles Times (MSN)
- Sometimes, You Have To Turn Your Back On Your TBR Pile And Simply Reread
“You take yourself with you, right? The image becomes mirrored: Who you were and what you took from a book the first time is reflected in who you are and what you take from the book now.” – Reactor Mag
- Even If Trump’s Name Comes Off The Kennedy Center, He Might Still Destroy It
“When the history of Trump’s second administration is written, the whole sorry Kennedy Center chapter will be key to understanding the chaos, cruelty and grotesque egotism of the president, as well as the bravery and determination of those who resisted and persevered.” – Washington Post (Yahoo)
- The Beatles Are Still Quite, Quite, Quite Big In The UK
“It’ll be like Barbenheimer,” says one biographer of Paul and John of the new wave of movies coming out this year, including four by Sam Mendes, with one devoted to each band member. – The Guardian (UK)
- A Billionaire’s Firm Just Tried To Buy Universal Music, But They Turned Him Down
OK: “The music giant said Pershing Square’s $64.3bn (£48bn) takeover offer was ‘not in the best interests’ of the company, shareholders, artists, fans and other stakeholders.” – BBC
- All Over The World, Poetry Fans Are Celebrating Allen Ginsberg’s 100th Birthday
Lawrence Ferlinghetti explained, years ago, that “‘Howl’ knocked the sides out of things, just the way rock music in the ’60s knocked the sides out of the old music world.” – NPR
- As You Would Expect, Heated Rivalry Cleaned Up At The Canadian Screen Awards
So did the comedy series North of North. But Heated Rivalry, whoa: “The series entered the night riding on a red-hot winning streak after collecting 13 awards from its 18 nominations during Saturday night’s gala for scripted television. It left with a total of 16 Screen Awards.” – CBC
- Tony Leung Was Ready To Quit Acting Out Of Boredom, And Then Wong Kar-Wai Came Along
“From the first day I met him, when I was going through a period of frustration, I knew we would make special films, that he would elevate me to another level. He pressed my acting button again.” – El País English
- Names off, names on
Good Morning,
Three reversals to start with. A federal judge ordered Trump’s name removed from the Kennedy Center and halted the planned two-year closure. The NYT Breaks down what’s next (The New York Times). Meanwhile, Trump’s “Freedom 250” celebration of the country’s birthday is unraveling so completely — nearly every musician has pulled out — that he now reportedly wants to cancel it (The New York Times). And Tennessee’s attempt to pull Roots from school libraries under its book-banning law has been blocked, for now (Salon).
Three obituaries today, each for a woman whose work built an institution without her name above the door. Claude Bessy ran the Paris Opera Ballet School for thirty years (The New York Times). Marcia Lucas co-edited the first Star Wars and Jedi and quietly rescued Spielberg and Scorsese films along the way (The Hollywood Reporter). And Hong Kong photographer Nancy Sheung portrayed women as autonomous and audacious in the 1960s, when the cultural script said otherwise (The New York Times).
Meanwhile, the AI corrosion file grows: Amazon is making an AI-animated Good Advice Cupcake without its creator (Wired), TikTok scammers are using AI blackface to push cheap junk (The Verge), and The Atlantic identifies the universal AI-writing tell: “perfectly clean, without a stray comma,,” (The Atlantic).
Lastly — Last week Google announced a slew of products that signal the end of web search and the dawn of AI agents. This will have enormous implications for how people find — and don’t find — culture. I wrote about this more in this week’s AJ Chronicles.
All of our stories below. See you tomorrow.
Doug
- Saying No To New Gadgets Might Make Us Happier
Just in case you’ve missed multiple strains of philosophy, ethics, and “happiness studies” over the years, not to mention Buddhist thought, well: “When we encounter something new, we get a dopamine hit. … But sometimes novelty seduces us without offering anything meaningful.” – Fast Company
- The Kansas City Symphony Wants To Add A New, Separate, Non-Classical Performance Space
Why? “The possibility of generating year-round sustaining revenue for an orchestra.” – KC Studio
- We Knew Heated Rivalry’s Shane Was A Reader, But The Actor Playing Him Has Even Better Taste In Books
“Williams is rarely spotted without a book in his hand. He’s now name-checked multiple Joan Didion titles in interviews, and was once photographed next to a copy of Knausgaard’s My Struggle. His personal motto comes from Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.” And his selections sell very well. – LitHub
- Claude Bessy, Who Ruled The Paris Ballet School, Has Died At 93
Bessy was “a graceful French ballet star whose firm hand at the helm of the Paris Opera Ballet School for three decades made it one of the world’s top dance institutions, though her rigorous methods eventually drew stinging criticism.” – The New York Times
- Tennessee’s Latest Attempt At Banning – This Time Of Roots – Has Failed, For Now
“Under the totalitarian Age-Appropriate Materials Act — a Tennessee law passed in 2022 that, along with an addendum passed two years later, has permitted the removal of hundreds of books from libraries throughout the state — the Knox County school district recently ordered the removal of Alex Haley’s novel.” – Salon
- As Nearly All Musicians Pull Out, The President Wants To Cancel His ‘Freedom 250’ Celebration
He’s also said he wants to headline it himself. But “a senior administration official described the rollout of the concerts as ‘a mess’ and suggested that someone would most likely be fired over how the invitations to the event had been handled.” – The New York Times
- Dealing With Sudden Pop Fame By Exiting The Game Almost Entirely
Kim Petras was not happy with her experience of “what can happen when the general corporate powers that be force you to sideline your artistry for the company line.” So, she left. – The Fader
- A Photographer Who Portrayed Women As Bold And Self-Possessed, Even In 1960s Hong Kong
Sheung was “deeply invested in crafting an image of female autonomy and audacity at a time when women’s lives were constrained by traditional expectations.” – The New York Times
- Museum Gift Stores Have Always Been A Little Special, But They’ve Leveled Up
“Rather than an exit point, this new wave of merchandising is quickly turning museum gift shops into a desirable entry point. Curated edits … are now beginning to treat them as a stand-alone shopping destination, marking a shift from cultural institution to cultural retailer.” – The Guardian (UK)
- The Five Top Takeaways From The Kennedy Center Ruling
And yes, we sure do mean the Kennedy Center. – The New York Times
- The Creator Of This Animated Cupcake Is Furious At Buzzfeed’s GenAI Plan
Remember when Jonah Peretti of Buzzfeed seemed like a good guy? That was a long time ago, and we were all so much more innocent, including the creator of Good Advice Cupcake: “I trusted them, though naively, when they said they had no interest in continuing Cuppy without me.” – Wired
- Marcia Lucas, Who Truly Created Star Wars Through Editing, Has Died At 80
Lucas not only co-edited the first movie and Return of the Jedi but also made various Spielberg, Scorsese, and many other movies far, far better through her mad skills. – The Hollywood Reporter
- A Critic Begs Us All Not To Forget These Performances In The Lead-Up To Emmy Noms
These actors aren’t going to be nominated, but they (maybe!) should be. And some of us could at least watch their shows. – Vulture
- The Serious Business Of Creating Illustrations For Children
“For years, illustrators have been overlooked, seen as people who come in and do the decorating after the house has been built. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.” – The Guardian (UK)
- The Biggest AI Writing Tell
The prose – whether in a text or fiction submission – is “perfectly clean, without a stray comma; uniform in length, with evenly paced paragraphs and a distinctive tone that is simultaneously breezy and grandiose.” – The Atlantic
- On TikTok, Scammers Are Using AI Blackface To Push Cheap Products
Those belt buckles sure aren’t handmade. And: “Nearly all aspects of the accounts appear to be AI-generated — from the ‘person’ in the video to automated responses to comments, which in some cases attempt to mimic African American vernacular.” – The Verge
- A Novel Twenty Years In The Making
“If you work on a book for twenty years—whatever we mean by work—people really act like you’re very neurotic. Like there’s something wrong with you, or you’re doing something wrong—and it’s easy to internalize that.” – Paris Review
