Michelle Ebanks, who most just lately served because the president of Essence Communications, the worldwide media and communications firm devoted to Black girls, would be the subsequent president and chief govt of the Apollo Theater in Harlem, the group introduced on Tuesday.
“I’ve a deep understanding of the worth of cultural establishments and their profound impression on particular person lives and society, and the Apollo Theater as one of many nation’s biggest cultural establishments,” Ebanks mentioned in an interview on Monday.
Ebanks, 61, replaces the theater’s longtime chief, Jonelle Procope, who announced last year that she deliberate to step down this summer season after practically 20 years steering the Harlem group, which she reworked from a struggling nonprofit to the biggest African American performing arts presenting group within the nation.
The appointment comes at a essential time for the theater, which is wrapping up an $80 million capital fund-raising marketing campaign to totally renovate its 109-year-old constructing, with building set to start subsequent yr and the primary cultural packages within the new area deliberate for spring 2025. Along with a brand new foyer cafe and bar that shall be open to the general public, plans embody added and upgraded seating, new lighting and audio techniques and updates to the constructing’s exterior. The primary theater shall be closed throughout at the least a part of the renovation, however programming shall be offered on the Victoria theaters, and also will proceed on the Apollo.
Ebanks, who holds a bachelor’s diploma in finance from the University of Florida, led Essence Communications for 18 years and helped develop the corporate into a world franchise that now consists of Essence, the life-style journal for Black girls; Essence.com; and the Essence Festival, the model’s annual reside music occasion that pulls tons of of 1000’s of individuals to New Orleans every year.
It was her expertise with the Essence Festival particularly that was one of many major attracts for the Apollo, mentioned Charles E. Phillips, chairman of the theater’s board.
“She understood rather well the type of creative content material that individuals would reply to with the Essence Festival,” he mentioned in a telephone interview on Monday. “At the identical time, she has enterprise expertise as nicely.”
Her focus, she mentioned, shall be on persevering with the present partnerships the Apollo has with early-career creators and organizations in Harlem and the nation, and increasing them.
“I wish to attain as many various audiences as attainable,” she mentioned. “The impression of arts and music on society is immeasurable, and we want as many tales advised from these rising artists as attainable.”
Ebanks will assume her new place in July.
Content Source: www.nytimes.com