MEET THE PANELISTS:
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 7PM
Small Arts Futures in Roboburgh and Beyond: Tech, Creativity, Equity, and Sustainability
You have questions? We've got answers...or at least a conversation to be heard that could spark some creative solutions. Join us for thought provoking dialogue about city infrastructure, organizational opportunities created for dance scenes, how tech companies and arts companies should get to know each other, and what do they both have in common through the lens of civic development!
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Celeste Smith, Senior Program Officer for Arts and Culture, The Pittsburgh Foundation
Celeste C. Smith was named senior program officer for arts and culture in January 2021. Celeste provides leadership for the arts and culture portfolio and engages collaboratively with other members of the arts and culture team to ensure that grantmaking reflect rigorous quantitative and qualitative research into the cultural sector. She has principal responsibility for shaping grant-making, convening and support strategies, including the development and oversight of special initiatives. She works closely with department leaders to establish goals and regularly monitor outcomes of the arts and culture portfolio. |
Celeste first joined the Foundation’s staff in 2018 as program officer for arts and culture and has been a significant contributor to the Program team’s efforts to advance racial equity by responding to critical community needs by centering the voices of people and communities most impacted by the issues the Foundation seeks to address. She brings her deep experience as a nonprofit and community leader, arts administrator, artist and activist to her role and has increased the reach and impact of grantmaking and special initiatives, including two joint arts programs with the Heinz Endowments. She is also adept at leveraging diverse local and national networks and cultivating new partnerships to evaluate current strategies and inform new approaches.
Celeste’s “more than money” mindset creatively brings people together for shared learning, collaboration and celebration. She helped developed the Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh toolkit in response to a direct request from the field for examples of grant applications, budgets, curricula vitae and artist statements for successful funding requests. She also engages arts institutions in critical discussions about their role in creating a thriving and equitable arts ecosystem. She led efforts to document and elevate the impact of COVID-19 on the arts sector, ensuring their inclusion in the criteria for the Emergency Action Fund. She also organized a nine-person advisory committee to inform the design of the Grantmaking for Racial Justice Fund.
Celeste is a graduate of Chatham University and has served on numerous boards and committees including the Grantmakers in the Arts Independent Artists Support Committee, COVID Artist Working Group Philanthropic Member, CYD Youth Funders Forum, Reimagine Pittsburgh Public Schools Arts Team Member and Justice Funders. She has served as a panelist and presenter at dozens of local and national events and conferences. She was a 2018 SXSW Community Service Award honoree.
Celeste is also a literary artist. Her writing was published in the 2019 literary anthology, "TENDER a Literary Anthology and Book of Spells: evidence," which was edited by vanessa german, award-winning visual and performance artist, and Deesha Philyaw, national book award finalist. She lives with her husband and three children in East Liberty.
Celeste’s “more than money” mindset creatively brings people together for shared learning, collaboration and celebration. She helped developed the Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh toolkit in response to a direct request from the field for examples of grant applications, budgets, curricula vitae and artist statements for successful funding requests. She also engages arts institutions in critical discussions about their role in creating a thriving and equitable arts ecosystem. She led efforts to document and elevate the impact of COVID-19 on the arts sector, ensuring their inclusion in the criteria for the Emergency Action Fund. She also organized a nine-person advisory committee to inform the design of the Grantmaking for Racial Justice Fund.
Celeste is a graduate of Chatham University and has served on numerous boards and committees including the Grantmakers in the Arts Independent Artists Support Committee, COVID Artist Working Group Philanthropic Member, CYD Youth Funders Forum, Reimagine Pittsburgh Public Schools Arts Team Member and Justice Funders. She has served as a panelist and presenter at dozens of local and national events and conferences. She was a 2018 SXSW Community Service Award honoree.
Celeste is also a literary artist. Her writing was published in the 2019 literary anthology, "TENDER a Literary Anthology and Book of Spells: evidence," which was edited by vanessa german, award-winning visual and performance artist, and Deesha Philyaw, national book award finalist. She lives with her husband and three children in East Liberty.
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Audrey Russo, President and CEO, Pittsburgh Tech Council
Since 2007, Audrey Russo has served the technology business sector for southwestern PA as President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council (www.pghtech.org), the oldest (1983) and largest technology trade association. In this role, Russo facilitates strong interaction across all sectors of the regional economy. With a background in information technology, operations and finance, Russo previously worked for large multi-national Fortune 500 companies (Alcoa, Reynolds Metals), as well as at MAYA Design, and in an adjunct faculty and project role at Virginia Commonwealth University. She loves the complexity of Pittsburgh’s physical, literal and metaphorical terrain and believes the city will succeed and grow through technology innovation and commercialized disruptions across every platform and experience. Pittsburgh’s technology roots are essential and imperative in achieving competitive, diverse and vibrant economies. |
Russo earned her Bachelor of Science from Ohio State University. She also has a Master’s in Public Administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Public Affairs. Audrey is currently serving as a board member of the following organizations: Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC), CityLab, Highmark Business Advisory Board, City of Asylum (COA), Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Cancer Institute Advisory Board and the PA Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC) as Commission Member. Russo also co-hosts TechVibe Radio every Sunday at 6am on 100.1 FM/AM 1020 KDKA to explore technology companies and entrepreneurial issues. She also serves as the President of the newly formed nonprofit Fortyx80 which serves to ensure that Pittsburgh’s vitality will be sustained through education for entrepreneurs, education for the next generation of the economy and development of newer collisions of innovation.
Russo is both professionally and personally active in the tech and innovation start up ecosystem, serving as a mentor, champion, convener and angel investor in companies. She is committed to ensuring women and underrepresented individuals in tech are connected to ensure business growth. Additionally, Russo is a sought-after speaker, presenting ideas about Pittsburgh, as well as the future of tech, people and places and the global economy.
Russo is both professionally and personally active in the tech and innovation start up ecosystem, serving as a mentor, champion, convener and angel investor in companies. She is committed to ensuring women and underrepresented individuals in tech are connected to ensure business growth. Additionally, Russo is a sought-after speaker, presenting ideas about Pittsburgh, as well as the future of tech, people and places and the global economy.
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Erin Perry, Executive Director, The Legacy Arts Project (Pgh)
Erin Perry is a mother, wife, teacher, artist and arts administrator, and long time advocate for culturally relevant education and community engagement. She is the executive director of the Legacy Arts Project (LAP) and is passionate about the healing and transformative power of the arts. Since her first immersive experience with West African drum and dance, Erin has been on a mission to learn more about herself and the world through cultural exploration, appreciation, and expression. As Ms. Perry has continued to evolve, so has her work. Rooted in cultural exploration, she has grown to understand the role of arts and culture in the development of a strong self-identity. As such, she has traveled throughout the African diaspora, experiencing culture through direct immersion in the activities of the people and places she has visited. From these experiences, relationships have been formed, knowledge transmitted, and bridges built, enabling Erin to develop a foundation from which to share her knowledge. |
Through the LAP, Erin has maintained a connection with the Pittsburgh Black arts community, dating back to the founder’s youth in the historic Hill District neighborhood of the city. As a personal goal, Erin strives to exchange the expression of that connection through weekly community classes, performances, after school and summer programming, annual events, and collaborations/partnerships with other artists and administrators. This has resulted in audiences averaging 500 people/year who have experienced: classes and workshops with master artists; trips to African and African American sites of historical significance; community engagement through performance with cultural historians; creation and presentation of original works. Erin accepts her role as a part of the evolution of the local, national, and international cultural arts ecology. Her administrative duties and creative opportunities have been made manifest through: the production of Dance Africa Pittsburgh (2012, 2014-2019) with internationally-influenced cultural presenters; the production of Keepers of the Flame (2012-2020) honoring elder local artists who influence the transmission of culture; FABA (For Artists By Artists) Parties; International Artist Residencies; off-site summer programs in the Hill District, Wilkinsburg, Woodland Hills, and Homewood; on-site summer programming for the third year in a row; and after school programming in Woodland Hills and Clairton School Districts; and the first year of Saturday arts programming for youth ages 5-14.
Erin consistently seeks and takes advantage of opportunities to deepen and expand knowledge that pertains to self, community, and organizational development. She has established a relationship with the National Guild for Community Arts and Education and has participated in leadership development programming since 2017. The LAP currently participates in their pilot program entitled, “Rootwork”, and their Catalyzing Creative Aging program.
Erin consistently seeks and takes advantage of opportunities to deepen and expand knowledge that pertains to self, community, and organizational development. She has established a relationship with the National Guild for Community Arts and Education and has participated in leadership development programming since 2017. The LAP currently participates in their pilot program entitled, “Rootwork”, and their Catalyzing Creative Aging program.
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Randal Miller, Director of Dance Programming and Special Projects, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust; Director, Pittsburgh Dance Council
Randal Miller is the Director of Dance Programming and Special Projects where he oversees a broad portfolio of performing arts activities which include the Pittsburgh Dance Council, Trust Cabaret, Pittsburgh Humanities Festival, and other special projects. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member for Carnegie Mellon University where he teaches performing arts presenting and festival in their Master of Arts Management program. |