Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County Appoints Brian Hersh as Chief Executive Officer 

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, your source for arts and culture throughout the Cultural Coast, is proud to announce the appointment of Brian Hersh as its new Chief Executive Officer.

“The Alliance Board is excited to welcome Brian with his wonderful background of engaging youth in arts education, his deep community connections and national leadership experience,” said Julie Leach, Board Chair of the Alliance. “We are also extremely appreciative of Kelley Lavin for serving as our Interim Executive Director for the last few months while we did a national search for this role. She has done a wonderful job preparing us for the upcoming year and a future of excellence in promoting Sarasota as Florida’s Cultural Coast.”

Brian Hersh is joining the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County as its new CEO in June. Hersh has spent over 20 years in the field of nonprofit arts administration, including posts at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Asolo Repertory Theatre. In this new role, he will work to advance Sarasota County as a preeminent cultural community.

“I’m incredibly excited and honored to lead the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County,” Brian Hersh said.  “We live in an amazing community powered by the arts. Sarasota is a beacon of vibrancy that shines brightly beyond our cultural coast.”

Hersh has been the Program Director for Any Given Child in Sarasota County Schools. In partnership with John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, he has led the district’s strategic approach to arts education. Hersh is an active member of Leadership Florida and a graduate of the Education Class 5. Hersh is also a graduate of the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute and has served on the Board of Directors for various nonprofit organizations.

He holds a Bachelor of Musical Arts from DePauw University where he studied percussion. In addition to all things arts and culture, Hersh loves following soccer and spending time with his family. He is thrilled and honored to be a part of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.

Photo Credit: Sorcha Augustine Photography