After 14 years as executive director of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, Jeannie Howe will move on from the organization Dec. 31.
Howe, who has led the organization since 2012, oversaw several programs supporting the Baltimore region’s cultural sector. The alliance will begin searching for her successor in June.
“Reflecting on my time at GBCA, I am deeply proud of what we, the staff and Board of Directors, have accomplished together and in partnership with our community,” Howe said in a statement. “We have led with a deep commitment to equity and fairness and have spoken out on behalf of the creative sector and its tremendous impact on the quality of life and economic success of the region. As I enter this new time in my life, I am extremely excited for GBCA’s future and the impact of its amazing work in the years to come.”
Among the projects that Howe has worked on were professional development initiatives for emerging arts leaders of color through Urban Arts Leadership, audience development strategies, the Baker Artist Portfolios in partnership with the Willian G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, a five-year pilot of the Rubys Artist Grants, and advocacy initiatives such as the Citizen Artist Baltimore partnership.
“Jeannie’s dynamic energy, her innovative ideas and enduring optimism have made her an exceptional partner with the William G. Baker Memorial Fund,” said Connie Imboden, board president for the William G. Baker Jr. Memorial Fund, in a statement. “Under her leadership and guidance, the Baker Portfolio and Prizes has broadened its reach in the community, partnering with countless venues, large and small, throughout the city and counties. The portfolio site itself continues to grow as a robust and useful site for artists eager to share their work with the world and at no cost to them.”
Howe “has been a mindful steward and leader of this organization through lean and mighty times,” said Carla Du Pree, executive director of CityLit Project and vice president of the alliance’s executive committee.
“Her natural ability to identify not only a multitalented staff to assist her on this journey, but also an assembly of a Who’s Who in the art scene to connect, collaborate and curate the work of this meaningful organization,” Du Pree said in a statement. “We are thankful for her work highlighting small arts organizations and her commitment to excellence in the field. She’s done the work of a staunch arts advocate and will be deeply missed.”
GBCA was founded in 2002. Howe’s departure from the organization comes as it prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
“Jeannie’s leadership has helped position GBCA as a key connector and advocate for artists and cultural organizations across our region,” GBCA board president Randi Benesch said in a statement. “Her deep commitment to equity, collaboration, and community has left a lasting imprint on the broader creative ecosystem throughout Baltimore and beyond. As we look ahead, the Board is engaging in a thoughtful strategic process to build on this strong foundation and ensure GBCA continues to meet the evolving needs of our creative community in the years to come.”
Previously the founder and president of BayCliff Associates, Howe led a $17.7 million capital campaign for Baltimore’s Everyman Theatre.
She serves on MD Nonprofits Policy Council and Mayor Brandon Scott’s Advisory Committee on Arts and Culture, and is also on the faculty at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.
The Daily Record named her as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 2014 and 2018.
