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- Twenty Years After His Fabricated Memoir And Grilling By Oprah, James Frey Is Trying For A Comeback
“As Frey sees it, the public has gotten increasingly comfortable with falsehoods, without getting fully comfortable with him. He finds it all a bit absurd. ‘I just sit in my castle and giggle,’ he said.” – The New York Times
- Actors Unions Make Deal with Video Game Producers After Strike Over AI
With the strike, the union took a stand against proposed AI terms that leaders claimed would have allowed companies to undercut members and their position in the workplace. – The Hollywood Reporter
- Despite Ongoing Bombardment, Kharkiv’s Ballet Dances On Amid The Destruction
“In the dark, brick-walled basement of the Kharkiv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, a dance company has created a space protected from drones and bombs.” A performance of Chopiniania in April was the first complete classical ballet given in the city since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. – Reuters
- George Street Playhouse: Director of Advancement, New Brunswick, NJ
George Street Playhouse (GSP), Central New Jersey’s premier producing theater, seeks an experienced Director of Advancement to lead a dynamic and ambitious fundraising program that supports GSP’s vision for the next 50 years. This position will drive the comprehensive fundraising strategy, with a particular focus on the “Bridge to the Future” campaign, a transformative $10 million initiative that will strengthen GSP’s artistic legacy, expand education and community programs, and enhance audience accessibility. The campaign is currently in its quiet phase, and the Director of Advancement will play a critical leadership role as it transitions to a public launch.
As a senior member of GSP’s leadership team, the Director of Advancement will collaborate closely with the Executive Director, Board members, and the “Artistic Triumvirate” (a team of three senior leaders responsible for artistic planning and execution) to ensure that GSP’s programs resonate with the needs and interests of our community and supporters. This role oversees the Development team and is responsible for the annual fund advancing major gifts, individual giving, grants, corporate partnerships, and fundraising events, with a special focus on the annual Gala.
Salary Range: $120,000 – $140,000
Reports to: Executive Director
Supervises: Development Manager, Grants & Corporate Relations Manager, Development Associate, Tessitura ManagerAbout George Street Playhouse
Founded in 1974, GSP has been a driving force in Central New Jersey’s cultural renaissance, presenting groundbreaking new works, reimagined classics, and impactful educational initiatives. Residing in the state-of-the-art New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, GSP is committed to creating transformative experiences through live theater. With over 70 new works produced and a reputation for developing shows that reach Broadway and beyond, GSP continues to captivate audiences with thought-provoking stories and world-class performances.
With the recent retirement of GSP’s long-time Artistic Director, the organization’s artistic course is being led by an Artistic Triumvirate who are reimagining the organization’s mission and vision through a new and different lens.
The mission of George Street Playhouse is to enrich people’s lives by producing world-class theatre. To accomplish our mission, we seek to produce the highest quality of intellectually and emotionally challenging new works, re-imagined classics, and educational programs that speak with relevance to society; to serve as a vital cultural institution in New Jersey and a creative force nationally; to positively shape and be shaped by the diverse character of our community; and, to create a nurturing home for the highest level of professionals in the arts. Our vision is, “Creating the next generation of trailblazing new works.”
GSP has a commitment to company culture that leads with relentless curiosity, limitless imagination and kindness and is welcoming and inclusive, focused on creative innovation and empowerment, and driven by accountability and fun. We build our strength on trust, diversity and the authentic expression of each individual.
GSP is now in the second year of its “Bridge to the Future” strategic plan, an ambitious endeavor that will secure its artistic and financial future, ensuring GSP’s legacy and influence for generations to come.
Key Responsibilities:
Fundraising Strategy and Leadership
- Develop and implement a strategic advancement annual plan aligned with the “Bridge to the Future” campaign, building towards the public phase and driving revenue from individual giving, grants, corporate sponsorships, and events.
- Lead all aspects of the “Bridge to the Future” campaign, overseeing progress, preparing for a successful public launch, and setting benchmarks to achieve campaign goals.
- Drive major gifts, foundation support, and corporate giving, with an emphasis on securing five- and six-figure contributions.
- Responsible for the planning and execution of the regular annual fund campaign, to meet budget and strategic goals.
Relationship Building and Stewardship
- Engage with GSP’s Board of Trustees, cultivating key relationships to expand GSP’s network and elevate its profile within the community, including at the NJ State level, regional institutions, etc.
- Partner with the Artistic Triumvirate to align artistic and educational programs with donor interests, increasing engagement and support.
- Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with major donors and institutional funders, implementing strategies to retain and grow the donor base.
Team Development and Management
- Supervise the Development team, including the Development Manager, Grants & Corporate Relations Manager, Development Associate, and Data Manager.
- Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture focused on professional development and achieving fundraising goals.
Operational and Administrative Oversight
- Oversee departmental budgeting, ensuring alignment with GSP’s strategic objectives.
- Use data analytics to track progress, refine strategies, and ensure the effective use of donor management systems in collaboration with the Data Manager.
Collaboration and Communication
- Representing GSP at community events, building connections that enhance visibility and foster new funding opportunities.
- Serve as a core member of GSP’s senior leadership team, working collaboratively to achieve organizational objectives.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred.
Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive experience in fundraising, with a proven record of closing major gifts and successfully managing a development team and campaigns.
Demonstrated success in managing, developing, and mentoring a team.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a proven ability to build and sustain relationships with Board members, donors, government officials, and community leaders.
Knowledge of data-driven fundraising strategies and donor database Tessitura is a plus.
Experience in the arts or nonprofit sector is a strong plus.Benefits:
George Street Playhouse offers a competitive benefits package, including:
- 90% premium coverage for health insurance (medical, vision, and dental)
- Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) program
- Paid parking near the theater
- 401K retirement plan
- Paid time off
- One remote workday per week
- Fridays off during summer, along with a paid week in the summer and another in December.
- Additional perks are designed to reflect our commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and teamwork.
This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of George Street Playhouse as we enter a new era of growth and innovation. We invite dedicated and visionary advancement professionals from across the nation and beyond to apply.
Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter by noon on July 31st, 2025, to Jamie Grant at search@GrantManagementGroup.com with “George Street Playhouse” in the subject line. Jamie Grant, of Grant Management Group, is coordinating this national search in partnership with GSP.
- William Kentridge On Creating Art
You’ve probably had the experience where you’ve written something, it feels really great and, the next morning, you read it and think, “Who wrote that? Not me. I would’ve written something much more intelligent.” One tends to disappoint oneself, and that split is very common in the studio. – The New York Times - What Monet Understood About Evoking A Place
This immersiveness does not come from an illusion of being in three dimensions – the opposite, in fact. Monet does a few subtle things that destabilise the elements of the perspective. – Psyche
- The Truth About Finding Your Own Creativity
The myth of the genius is that these individuals woke up one morning and excelled. As a result, too many people are convinced that either you’re creative and you just happen to be able to find flow, or you’re not and you don’t. – Aeon
- Pianist Maria João Pires Suffers “Slight Stroke”, Cancels Three Concerts
Pires, 81 next month, has withdrawn from performances this week and next in three Portuguese cities. She also has concerts scheduled in Monaco on June 22 and The Hague on June 30; so far, those performances are still on, as is a July tour to Japan and Taiwan. – RTP (Portugal) (via Google Translate)
- The Really Good News Out Of This Year’s Tonys
On Sunday, the Tony Awards paid homage to the astonishing array of acting talent that drew audiences back to the theater. But it wasn’t star power that determined the evening’s prizes. It was boldness — unadulterated theatrical fearlessness — that carried the day. – Los Angeles Times
- The Great Unwinding: Warner Discovery Will Break Up
The decision to split is a major about-face from the conventional wisdom in the industry when Warner Bros. Discovery was created three years ago — that media companies needed to get bigger to compete with streaming giants like Netflix. – The New York Times
- Smithsonian Pushes Back Against Trump Over Attempt To Fire Portrait Gallery Director
The statement, which does not mention Trump, Sajet or the NPG, goes on to obliquely rebuke the president’s claims, clarifying that he does not have the authority to fire Smithsonian employees. – The Art Newspaper
- What The New Conductor Of Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival Has In Mind
“Giancarlo Guerrero, 56, ended his 16-year tenure in May as music director of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, where he put an emphasis on contemporary American music and oversaw more than 20 recordings that earned him six Grammy Awards.” – Chicago Sun-Times
- How Irving Thalberg Helped Create Hollywood’s Golden Age
Thalberg produced some three or four hundred movies in his years at M-G-M, ranging from big pictures like “Mutiny on the Bounty” to the Marx Brothers’ late-career hit, “A Night at the Opera,” though he left his name on almost none. – The New Yorker
- As AI Writing Becomes More Ubiquitous, Will We Change How Humans Write?
Will we now push ourselves to write in a style that means we can’t possibly be confused for AI? Might we try to sound more human, more distinct, more fleshy, and therefore less algorithmic. – 3 Quarks Daily
- Is Poetry Just About The Words? (Not Really)
While what’s lost in translation is admittedly enormous, to conclude that poetry is therefore untranslatable is to fundamentally misrepresent both what poetry is and what translation is. – Poetry Foundation
- In New Fiction, The Subject Of AI Has Moved Beyond The SciFi/Fantasy Genre
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) has long been a staple of science fiction, but editors are seeing a change in how novelists are exploring the subject in light of societal shifts in AI use and familiarity and concern about its implications.” – The Bookseller (UK)
- Frederick Forsyth, One Of The World’s Best-Selling Thriller Novelists, Has Died At 86
“A mega-selling British novelist of political thrillers, cunning spy craft and globe-trotting intrigue, (he) used his own background as a foreign correspondent to inspire such page-turners as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File and The Dogs of War.” – The Washington Post (MSN)
- Former Director Of Kahlo And Rivera Museums Alleges Missing Artworks And Mismanagement
Hilda Trujillo Soto, who was adjunct director and then director of the Mexico City museums from 2002 and 2020, alleges that the trust overseeing the museums has been negligent and that there are works missing which have later turned up in private collections. – The Art Newspaper
- Federal Judge Rules That Corporation For Public Broadcasting Is Independent And Trump Cannot Unilaterally Sack Its Board Members
While the U.S. District Court didn’t explicitly and directly reverse Trump’s removal of three CPB board members, it affirmed that Congress created CPB to be an independent, private nonprofit free of executive branch control. The Corporation’s CEO subsequently confirmed that board membership remains as it was. – Inside Radio
- Smithsonian’s Board Confirms That Its Chief Executive, Not The U.S. President, Has Hiring And Firing Power
While the Board of Regents (which includes the U.S. Vice President and the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice) didn’t directly address Trump’s attempt to fire National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet, the Board’s statement clearly affirmed that hiring/firing power belongs to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch. – The Washington Post (MSN)
- After Two-Year Struggle, Disney Buys Full Control Of Hulu (For Far Less Than Comcast Wanted)
In December 2023, in an initial payment toward the Hulu purchase, Disney agreed to give Comcast/NBCUniversal $8.61 billion — one-third of the $27.5 billion guaranteed floor value for Hulu as of 2019. Following arbitration, Disney is paying a further $438.7 million — less than one-tenth of the valuation Comcast was seeking. – Variety
- Art Historian Claims To Have Identified Caravaggio’s Oldest Known Painting
“Gianni Papi — one of the world’s leading experts on the artist — announced the discovery of what he believes to be the earliest known painting by the genius: Boy Peeling Fruit. … The initial doubts were evident. There are about 10 known copies. … However, Papi has no doubts.” – El País (Spain) (in English)
- San Francisco Symphony seeks Deputy Director of Development
Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, the Deputy Director of Development (DDD) is a key strategic leader and is the second most senior position on the Symphony’s Development Team. The DDD is responsible for strategy and contributed funding from individuals, foundations, and government supporters and overall growth of private philanthropy. The DDD works regularly with the Chief Philanthropy Officer, Board leadership, fundraising volunteers, and supports the Development Committee of the Board. The DDD is a critical frontline fundraiser, managing a portfolio of 45–50 Major Gift and Planned Giving prospects totaling a minimum of $3 to $5 million annually for the Annual Fund. The DDD will also lead a team of nine development professionals, with four direct reports including a Senior Giving Officer, Maestro’s Circle; a Senior Major Gift Officer; a Senior Giving Officer, New Philanthropy; and a Senior Giving Officer, Foundation & Government. The ability to travel as needed to represent the Symphony around the Bay Area and northern California, and to be present at evening and weekend concert and events, is required.
Role and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and lead strategy for annual giving, special fundraising initiatives, new philanthropy initiatives, and lead a team of gift officers with portfolios with capacity of more than $1 million each.
- Serve as a key strategic thought partner and leader for Chief Philanthropy Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Board of Governors, and volunteer leadership to ensure proper planning, management, and execution of the Symphony’s fundraising efforts.
- Participate as a member of the Development Leadership Team, contributing to other Development areas and overall division planning.
- Manage a donor portfolio of 45–50 households through all stages of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship totaling $3 million to $5 million annually.
- Collaborate and provide fundraising counsel to senior leadership to identify cultivate and recruit prospective board members.
- Embrace other strategic leadership responsibilities as needed.
Board and Donor Engagement
• Collaborate and provide fundraising counsel to the Board of Governors to identify cultivate and recruit prospective board members.
• Attend and present at Board and committee meetings including Development, Gift Planning, Committee on Governors, etc. as needed.
• Create strategies with the Advancement Committee that build meaningful paths for the Bay Area’s diverse community to engage in supporting the Symphony as donors, partners, advisors, and community ambassadors.
• Advise board members, both individually and collectively, on best practices in community ambassadorship and donor cultivation.
• Embrace other board and donor engagement responsibilities as needed.Team and Organizational Oversight
- Provide leadership and guidance for gift officers to maximize productivity, increase contribution levels, and establish performance metrics to track and evaluate regularly against annual goals.
- Ensure gift officer portfolios are robust and managed through best practice to achieve ambitious revenue goals.
- Oversee discovery efforts for new donors at all levels of giving through a variety of channels including but not limited to direct mail, telefunding, and personal solicitation.
- Maintain a broad knowledge of tax laws that impact charitable giving, personal assets, and estates.
- Create a supportive, collaborative, productive, and healthy work environment based on respect and teamwork.
- Embrace other team and organizational oversight responsibilities as needed.
Traits and Characteristics
The Deputy Director of Development (DDD) will have the willingness to engage and work with different perspectives and demonstrate an openness to new ideas, complemented by outstanding interpersonal skills. Demonstrating an ability to engage donors at all levels, trustees, senior leadership, staff, and other key members of the Symphony community, the DDD will model accountability and diplomacy as foundational skills in the role.
Characteristics of the DDD include:
- Leadership and Teamwork – The ability to organize and inspire people in a vision while creating a sense of purpose and direction with team members.
- Influencing Others and Interpersonal Skills – The capability to influence other’s ways of thinking, decisions, and actions while building rapport and relating well to all kinds of people.
- Time and Priority Management – The acuity to develop initiatives and demonstrate self-control in time and priority management while identifying and overseeing resources, tasks, systems, and people to obtain results.
- Stakeholder Focus – The sensitivity to anticipate, meet, and/or exceed stakeholder needs, wants, and expectations.
- Goal Orientation – The capacity to set, pursue, and attain goals regardless of obstacles or circumstances.
Qualifications
A minimum of seven to 10 years of proven organizational, supervisory, and fundraising leadership experience is essential. Relative experience outside the nonprofit environment working with high-net worth individuals will be considered. A successful record of conceptualizing and executing fundraising plans across donor categories (individual giving, foundation and government support) is required. Proven success in cultivating, stewarding, and soliciting prospects at the $100,000+ level is required. Ability to successfully manage a team in a sophisticated, fast paced, and complex fundraising environment is essential. Strong organizational skills, ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities, and meet deadlines in a high-volume, fast-paced environment is needed. The ability to lead and mentor an experienced team is essential. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, especially regarding the Symphony and its mission, vision, and values are essential. Ability to professionally and diplomatically communicate and interact with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders. Familiarity with and/or passion for orchestral music is a plus, and experience working in the arts is highly desired. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and donor database software is needed; Tessitura experience is preferred.
Compensation and Benefits
The Symphony provides a competitive salary depending on experience in a range between $168,809 to $193,485 with generous health and welfare benefits. The current schedule for this position requires a minimum of two days in the office per week, in addition to evening and weekend events.
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/san-francisco-symphony-seeks-deputy-director-of-development/ .
The San Francisco Symphony is a fully committed equal employment opportunity institution and welcomes applications from all qualified persons, including those who consider themselves to be of a race, national origin, or ancestry that is not fully represented in musical arts programs in the United States. Personnel decisions regarding applicants for employment are made without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran, age, citizenship, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.
- Rural America Will Be The Loser If Congress Defunds Public Broadcasting
“This would disproportionately harm rural areas and smaller communities, where public media really is a lifeline,” said Tim Richardson of PEN America. – The Guardian
- Judge Rules Trump Can Dismantle Institute of Museum and Library Services
In Friday’s ruling, the judge wrote that as much as the “Court laments the Executive Branch’s efforts to cut off this lifeline for libraries and museums,” recent court decisions suggested that the case should be heard in a separate court dedicated to contractual claims. – AP News
- Now That Taylor Swift Owns Her Music, What Happens To Her Re-Recordings?
Some fans are disappointed that we may never see the last two rerecordings, though Swift has hinted that she might be willing to release them, in some form, one day. – The New Yorker
- Tracing Back Where All Our Languages Came From
There are about 7,000 languages spoken in the world today; they can be divided into about 140 families. Nevertheless, the languages most of us speak belong to just five. – Washington Post
- What To Make Of Damien Hirst At 60?
Ever since Hirst burst on the art scene in the 1990s with his macabre readymades (or “objets trouvé”) of dead animals in vitrines, he has divided art critics and the public alike. – The Conversation
- In The Era Of Algorithms, Roots Music Is Getting A Boost
Algorithms, which sort the listening public into ever-more-individualized niches, can cut both ways: They can introduce you to new artists, but they can also “rob you of the variety of emotional experience.” A result, is “a hunger for a more authentic view, a more definite emotional experience than commercial country often provides.” – New York Times Magazine
- ‘Throw the Bums Out’<a href="https://www.artsjournal.com/herman/2025/06/throw-the-bums-out.html" title="‘Throw the Bums Out’” rel=”nofollow”>
Given the Trump
- Trump Takes Over Arts Institutions. But Can He?
Trump may not have the formal capacity to shape the leadership of any of the Smithsonian’s museums, but if others treat him as if he does, then, well, what’s the difference? – The New York Times
- Why Are There So Many TV Shows Now About Rich People?
Lately, most of television seems stuck in the same mode. Virtually everything I’ve watched recently has been some variation of rich people pottering around in “aspirational” compounds. – The Atlantic
- Fired Librarian Of Congress Speaks Out
The first woman and African American to serve as the US librarian of Congress before Donald Trump fired her in May has not heard from the president’s administration beyond the 31-word email it sent her with word of her dismissal. – The Guardian
- The Kennedy Center Begins Its Repurposed Life
Across the country, arts leaders say the Kennedy Center’s transformation—complete with a CEO firing, board overhaul and unprecedented political involvement in its programming—has become a cautionary tale for organizations large and small. – The Wall Street Journal
- What Set Marc Maron’s Podcast Apart
Sure, now everyone (and their annoying friend) has a podcast, but not in 2009, when Maron got his start with WTF. “The podcast made me feel as if … I could also come back from career humiliation in a way that could be creatively satisfying.” – The New York Times
