MADISON, WI (CelebrityAccess) — The Overture Center for the Arts announced that after an exhaustive search, Sandra Gajic has been named as President and CEO.
Gajic will join the Overture staff to start her new gig effective Monday, September 24, 2018.
“It is such an exciting time at Overture,” said Overture Center Foundation Board Chair Betty Harris Custer. “We feel that Sandra fills many of the traits we found to be critical—decisive leadership, collaborative style with senior leaders, skilled in diversity and inclusion, experienced in attracting millennials in a similar albeit larger market and experience with Resident Companies.”
Gajic has nearly 40 years of management experience in the private and public sectors, serving most recently as Director, Vancouver Civic Theaters where she was responsible for development and implementation of a new business model for four theatres owned and operated by the City of Vancouver. Under her tenure, the venues and doubled revenues while containing expenses.
Other business experience in the arts world includes 16 years as Operations Manager at Canadian Opera Company, as General Manager and interim CEO at Arts Commons in Calgary, and as CEO of the Edmonton Opera.
“I’ve spent the past 20 years in arts and culture, most of it involving management in the performing arts,” said Gajic. “I look forward to engaging and becoming an integral part of the Madison community while bringing management cohesion to the relationship among the resident organizations and revitalizing the arts programming.”
Gajic steps into the position formerly held by Ted DeDee, past President and CEO of the Overture Center of the Arts, who retired in May 2018.
The Overture Center includes the 2,255-seat Overture Hall, the 1,089-seat Capitol Theatre, and the 347-seat house. Other facilities at the Center the Promenade Hall, and Wisconsin Studio conference rooms, as well as the intimate performing space Rotunda Stage.