Arts & Entertainment

UPDATED: What Direction Will BlackRock’s New Leader Take?

What you would like to know about BlackRock's new leader? Patch chats with Krista Rimple Bradley this week.

We’ve scheduled a meeting with BlackRock’s new executive director this week and we would like to take readers’ questions with us.

Krista Rimple Bradley begins her first official day as executive director today. Here’s what we already know about Bradley:

  • Since 2005, she was the program officer of performing arts for the MidAtlantic Arts Foundation, a private nonprofit with ties to local arts councils and the National Endowment for the Arts. She has more than a decade’s worth of experience working for arts-related organizations, including the Washington Performing Arts Society.
  • She’s Ivy League: Brown University, class of 1986, according to the university’s website
  • BlackRock’s search committee liked her networks. In a statement, Board of Trustees President Jean Casey said: 

“The search committee was impressed with Krista’s intelligence, extensive experience in all aspects of arts administration, and leadership in the performing arts field.  She also brings a wide network of relationships from the performing arts and funding communities, which she will leverage in her work leading BlackRock in its next phase of growth.”

Find out what's happening in Germantownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • She replaces Charlotte Sommers, who BlackRock officials said was leaving the Washington area. This prior season, Sommers introduced more dance programing — the in January infused dance with visual arts and the debut of and . BlackRock has also offered many, many educational programs, which are a bigger revenue generator than performances, the nonprofit’s recent tax records show.

 

So, in what direction does Bradley wish to take the theater? In a statement, Bradley said she was excited about "broadening and diversifying" BlackRock's programing and "increasing opportunities for residents of all ages to explore and engage with the arts more fully.”

Find out what's happening in Germantownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But what does that mean? Are major changes in store? More educational opportunities? More dance? More music? More theater?

We’re excited to find out. We’d also like to take a few questions along.

Please tell us what you would like to know about BlackRock's new leader in the comments section below.

Editor's note: This story has been updated since it was originally published. The article should have stated that Krista Rimple Bradley was the the program officer of performing arts for the MidAtlantic Arts Foundation since 2005.

Patch regrets the error.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here