Patrick Stewart

Hello again. I know, it’s been a while. But we are back and there is lots going on at Sushi these days. Today I want to introduce you to Patrick Stewart our new Executive Director. Having sat in several meetings with him, and perhaps more telling, had a cocktail or two with him, I can tell you he is going to be a wonderful addition not only to Sushi but the San Diego arts community as well.

Patrick will be rejoining the San Diego arts community in January after finishing his tenure as the executive director of the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Atlas is a multi-faceted center whose development, program, performance, and education accomplishments have served as the leading catalytic factor in the dramatic economic and social redevelopment of a major section of Washington, DC’s Northeast quadrant. With Sushi smack dab in the middle of the burgeoning East Village, his experience in DC is quite fitting.

He brings with him extensive regional management and production experience in San Diego, Seattle, and Washington, DC, including work with many of San Diego’s arts organizations, The Source Theatre and the National Summer Theatre Festival in Washington, and the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture, as well as positions in television on such shows as NBC’s Will & Grace and Good Morning Miami.

In addition to his institutional leadership roles, Patrick extends organization, management and curriculum development assistance to performing arts organizations.  He currently serves as a management consulting mentor to arts organizations via the Kennedy Center’s Office of the President, and lends expertise as a board or committee member to several organizations, most notably as an advisory committee member to the Capital Fringe Festival and service on the Board of Directors of the Takoma Park Arts and Humanities Council.

Patrick has an exciting vision for SUSHI and is committed to strengthening its role as a vital center for the urban arts. Although he will not return full time to San Diego until January, he has been meeting with the Board of Directors monthly to aid in management and planning for the fall 2009 and 2010 seasons. His focus will be primarily on fund development, programming, and community outreach.

Please join me in welcoming Patrick to San Diego. I’m pretty sure he is going to make San Diego a more interesting place to be.