Charles MacKay (US arts administrator)

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For the Scottish poet, see Charles Mackay.

Charles MacKay (born May 1950, Santa Fe, New Mexico) is an American arts administrator. He is a graduate of Santa Fe High School and of the University of Minnesota. As a youth, he played the French horn, and played in the orchestra of Santa Fe Opera (SFO) at age 17. His other tasks at SFO included work in the business office and painting stage scenery.[1]

With SFO, MacKay also held several administrative positions, including box office manager, assistant orchestra manager and business manager, the last position for 4 years.[2] [3] His other administrative positions include a 6-year tenure as director of finance and administration for the Spoleto Festival USA, from 1978 to 1984. For 5 years, he was the manager for the American artists at the Festival of Two Worlds (Spoleto, Italy).

In 1984, MacKay became executive director of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL), recruited to the post by OTSL's first general director Richard Gaddes. In 1985, MacKay was named OTSL's second general director, after Gaddes stood down from the post. During his tenure, MacKay presided over the growth of OTSL's endowment from USD $682,000 to $18 million, and maintained the company's record of never posting a deficit. He also raised funds for the construction of the Sally S. Levy Opera Center, the company's first permanent administrative facility, which was completed in 2006.

In November 2007, SFO named MacKay its third general director. to succeed Richard Gaddes. He is scheduled to conclude his OTSL tenure at the expiration of his current contract on 30 September 2008.[1] His contract as SFO general director is scheduled to begin on 1 October 2008.

MacKay is a 1997 recipient of the Arts Management Career Service Award. He has served as chairman of the board of Opera America since 2004, and his tenure in that post is scheduled to conclude in June 2008.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Miller, Sarah Bryan, "Opera Theatre’s Charles MacKay will take the helm at Santa Fe Opera". St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9 November 2007.
  2. ^ Craig Smith. "Opera taps native son as director", Santa Fe New Mexican, 10 November 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-08. 
  3. ^ Matthew Westphal. "Santa Fe Opera Appoints New General Director", Playbill Arts, 9 November 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-08. 

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