Veteran cultural arts, fundraising executive to head CAC
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
An accomplished theater professional hired to pilot the Community Arts Center into a new decade of popular cultural performances has 35 years of leadership experience with an eclectic collection of venues nationwide.
Following an extensive search, the Community Arts Center Board of Directors has selected Chuck Still to become executive director of the Arts Center, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pennsylvania College of Technology that has served 1.5 million guests for more than 1,000 productions since opening in 1993.
Still comes to the Community Arts Center from the Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH) in Texas, where, from 2015-19, he oversaw the startup of the facility and helped complete a $25 million capital campaign as MATCH’s founding executive director.
MATCH, which serves small and mid-sized cultural arts organizations in the Houston region, has hosted more than 5,000 events featuring nearly 400 different performers and arts groups, serving more than a half million patrons since its inception.
From 2008-14, Still was founding executive director of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (“The Kate”) in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, responsible for the launch of a facility featuring diverse programming and 200-plus shows annually, as well as a small museum.
His accomplishments there included completing a $1.7 million capital campaign for extensive renovation of a circa-1911 performing arts space. The Kate’s stage hosted such renowned performers as Art Garfunkel, Mavis Staples, Judy Collins, Roger McGuinn and Richard Thompson.
Prior to that, Still served as executive director of Riverside Theatre, Vero Beach, Florida, where he completed a $21.3 million capital campaign for a $19.5 million theater renovation while increasing annual giving from $238,000 to $966,000.
The professional theater featured a strong educational arm and booked a diverse range of performers including Debbie Reynolds, Bob Newhart, the Smothers Brothers and Marvin Hamlisch.
In the 1990s, Still worked as managing director at Merrimac Repertory Theatre, Lowell, Massachusetts, and at the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He has also worked in theater in various managerial capacities in New York City, Virginia, Minnesota, Alabama and North Carolina.
Still holds a Master of Fine Arts from North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and a Bachelor of Arts from Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina.
“The Community Arts Center is pleased to welcome Chuck to the staff,” said Board of Directors Co-Chairman William J. Martin, “and we are excited and enthusiastic about the leadership experience he brings to the executive director position.”
“The CAC board feels strongly that Chuck’s broad and deep expertise in the industry, his creative approach to development, and his open and engaging leadership style, are all precisely what our organization needs right now,” added Patrick Marty, co-chairman of the center’s board of directors. “I know that the CAC staff is eager to work with and learn from Chuck, and I trust that community leaders will assist us in offering Chuck a warm welcome to the region.”
Since reopening in 1993, the Community Arts Center (the former Capitol Theatre) has hosted a diverse slate of performers and shows including Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, Yo-Yo Ma, “Singin’ in the Rain,” Jackson Browne, Jay Leno, “A Chorus Line,” the Glenn Miller Orchestra, “Beauty and the Beast,” Riverdance, Jungle Jack Hanna, Willie Nelson, Ringo Starr, Gordon Lightfoot, Arlo Guthrie, Buddy Guy and many more.
The Arts Center serves as home to community-based organizations such as the Uptown Music Collective, the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, the Williamsport Community Concert Association, the Collegetown Gallery and local dance recitals. Through a 2016 collaboration agreement, Lycoming College has expanded access to the Community Arts Center to present performing arts, academic and community outreach events.
In addition, the CAC has partnered with more than 250 local nonprofits and other organizations, providing fundraising assistance, meeting space, technical support and promotional considerations.
For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
Following an extensive search, the Community Arts Center Board of Directors has selected Chuck Still to become executive director of the Arts Center, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pennsylvania College of Technology that has served 1.5 million guests for more than 1,000 productions since opening in 1993.
Still comes to the Community Arts Center from the Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH) in Texas, where, from 2015-19, he oversaw the startup of the facility and helped complete a $25 million capital campaign as MATCH’s founding executive director.
MATCH, which serves small and mid-sized cultural arts organizations in the Houston region, has hosted more than 5,000 events featuring nearly 400 different performers and arts groups, serving more than a half million patrons since its inception.From 2008-14, Still was founding executive director of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (“The Kate”) in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, responsible for the launch of a facility featuring diverse programming and 200-plus shows annually, as well as a small museum.
His accomplishments there included completing a $1.7 million capital campaign for extensive renovation of a circa-1911 performing arts space. The Kate’s stage hosted such renowned performers as Art Garfunkel, Mavis Staples, Judy Collins, Roger McGuinn and Richard Thompson.
Prior to that, Still served as executive director of Riverside Theatre, Vero Beach, Florida, where he completed a $21.3 million capital campaign for a $19.5 million theater renovation while increasing annual giving from $238,000 to $966,000.
The professional theater featured a strong educational arm and booked a diverse range of performers including Debbie Reynolds, Bob Newhart, the Smothers Brothers and Marvin Hamlisch.
In the 1990s, Still worked as managing director at Merrimac Repertory Theatre, Lowell, Massachusetts, and at the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He has also worked in theater in various managerial capacities in New York City, Virginia, Minnesota, Alabama and North Carolina.
Still holds a Master of Fine Arts from North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and a Bachelor of Arts from Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina.
“The Community Arts Center is pleased to welcome Chuck to the staff,” said Board of Directors Co-Chairman William J. Martin, “and we are excited and enthusiastic about the leadership experience he brings to the executive director position.”
“The CAC board feels strongly that Chuck’s broad and deep expertise in the industry, his creative approach to development, and his open and engaging leadership style, are all precisely what our organization needs right now,” added Patrick Marty, co-chairman of the center’s board of directors. “I know that the CAC staff is eager to work with and learn from Chuck, and I trust that community leaders will assist us in offering Chuck a warm welcome to the region.”
Since reopening in 1993, the Community Arts Center (the former Capitol Theatre) has hosted a diverse slate of performers and shows including Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, Yo-Yo Ma, “Singin’ in the Rain,” Jackson Browne, Jay Leno, “A Chorus Line,” the Glenn Miller Orchestra, “Beauty and the Beast,” Riverdance, Jungle Jack Hanna, Willie Nelson, Ringo Starr, Gordon Lightfoot, Arlo Guthrie, Buddy Guy and many more.
The Arts Center serves as home to community-based organizations such as the Uptown Music Collective, the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, the Williamsport Community Concert Association, the Collegetown Gallery and local dance recitals. Through a 2016 collaboration agreement, Lycoming College has expanded access to the Community Arts Center to present performing arts, academic and community outreach events.
In addition, the CAC has partnered with more than 250 local nonprofits and other organizations, providing fundraising assistance, meeting space, technical support and promotional considerations.
For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.