Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) recently announced the appointment of Craig T Peterson how president after a six-month national search and a unanimous board decision. Peterson, who will assume the presidency of LMCC on October 17, 2022, comes at a very important time for the organization as it celebrates half a century as a cultural leader in New York City and embarks on a campaign to advance the mission The Arts Center on Governors Island, a 40,000 square foot art space for residency programs, exhibitions, workshops, talks and more that opened to the public in 2019.
“As a cultural programmer for the past three decades, I have long admired the support LMCC provides to artists and the innovative cultural programming it brings to NYC,” he said Craig Peterson. “The generosity of the LMCC program, not only through its wide-ranging funding efforts, but also through the free public arts festival, river to river, makes LMCC a dynamic and exciting place to continue my career. Perhaps most exciting is the opportunity to further the mission of The Arts Center on Governors Island, which has become a beacon of support for artists creating, gathering and collaborating in one of NYC’s most unique environments. I believe artists are the heartbeat of NYC and we must make every effort to improve their ability to innovate and showcase work, especially as we emerge from the pandemic. I look forward to bringing my skills, experience and passion to LMCC to shape a sustainable future for our creative communities.”
About Craig T Peterson
A dynamic curator, programmer and producer who has engaged with artists at all career stages and disciplines, Peterson brings over three decades of experience in arts and culture leadership and advocacy. Peterson comes from his previous dual role at LMCC Heinrichstrasse settlement: Vice President of Visual and Performing Arts and Executive Artistic Director of Abron’s Arts Center, a home for contemporary interdisciplinary arts on Manhattan’s vibrant Lower East Side. While there, Peterson led programming and advocacy for various artist communities at Abrons’ multipurpose arts space, which hosted educational programs, residencies, exhibitions, and presentations. Before joining Abrons and Henry Street Settlement, Peterson was co-artistic director of Dance theater workshop (DTW, now known as New York Live Arts) and director of DTW’s Community Development Program from 1996 to 2004; designer of Live Arts Brewery (LAB)an artistic research and development program as part of the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival (now known as FringeArts); and director of Philly Fringe Festival. Peterson also served as program director Gibney Dancewhere he curated and directed the program for the Dance Center’s dance studios, venues and public art gallery.
Peterson is a graduate of Columbia University’s School of Business Executive Leadership Program, received a BA in Dance and Theater from Bard College, and currently serves on the boards of MAP Fund, Big Dance Theater and the Artist Communities Alliance.
About LMCC
LMCC was founded in 1973 as Cultural Council of Lower Manhattan, driven by the belief that artists are pillars of resilience, inspiration and vital to New York City’s cultural life. Originally founded to improve the quality of life in Lower Manhattan and the Financial District through free cultural programs at the World Trade Center Plaza, LMCC’s work on a programmatic scale, community and capacity impact, artists and communities throughout Manhattan and the governors serve increased Iceland as a leader in Artist Services and Public Programs.
LMCC’s artist services Provide artists with key resources to develop their work, including funding, studio space, professional development, and networking opportunities. As a curator and producer, LMCC brings free Public ProgramsPerformances and artistic experiences for hundreds of thousands of spectators annually through the River to River FestivalDowntown NYC’s Largest Free Summer Arts Festival; Open studios with LMCC Artists in Residence; and work developed and presented at The Arts Center on Governors Islandthe first permanent home for arts and culture on Governors Island and a creative space for engagement and dialogue.
Three exhibitions and installations are currently on view from Friday to Sunday until October 30th The Arts Center on Governors Islandincluding Amy Khoshbin and Jennifer Khoshbin: sunbathers; Elissa Blount Moorhead and Bradford Young, back and vocals; simon benjamin, Columns; in addition to The take care range of free public programs.
