PALM BEACH, FL (CelebrityAccess) – Jared Shahid has been appointed executive director of The Innovate Cultural Arts Center, which will open next year in the former Royal Poinciana Playhouse location in Palm Beach.
Shahid, who will begin his role in early September, has a rich background in managing prestigious arts organizations and a dedication to community building. He previously served as executive director of programming at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut, where he introduced a variety of artists, such as Itzhak Perlman, Wynton Marsalis, and Anoushka Shankar. His tenure there saw increased community engagement and record attendance and revenue.
Jill Glazer, co-founder of The Innovate, expressed enthusiasm for Shahid’s appointment, praising his forward-thinking approach and ability to foster community connections through the arts. The Innovate, a non-profit organization co-founded by Jill and Avram “Avie” Glazer, aims to establish itself as a cornerstone of cultural engagement in Palm Beach.
Innovate is sponsoring the Palm Beach Civic Association’s Welcome Back Community Forum at the Mandel Recreation Center on November 7, 2024. Jill Glazer, a Civic Association director, highlighted the partnership’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Palm Beach.
Renovation work on the historic Royal Poinciana Playhouse, part of the Royal Poinciana Plaza, began in 2022. The renovation preserves elements of the original John Volk-designed building, including the east façade and the box office. The new multi-purpose cultural arts center will feature a larger lobby, 400 retractable seats, a glass curtain wall with a view of the Lake Worth Lagoon, a restaurant with outdoor dining, and retail space. The center is expected to open to the public for the 2025-2026 winter season.
Shahid expressed his excitement about working with the Glazers and bringing their vision for the new arts center to life. He emphasized the importance of creating a venue that reflects Palm Beach’s cultural past, present, and future by offering a balanced schedule of world-class entertainment and community-focused events.
Mary Robosson, president of the Civic Association, praised the Innovate team for its efforts to enhance Palm Beach’s cultural landscape and for collaborating with the Civic Association.
