City Has New Arts Alliance and New Leader

ST. PETERSBURG – An expert in arts management was tapped by St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster to lead the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, a new arts and culture initiative.

John Collins will oversee the alliance, whose goal will be to launch the St. Petersburg Endowment for the Arts for helping fund arts initiatives. 

In making the announcement, the city noted that public funding for the arts has decreased in recent years as city revenues decreased and the budget tightened.
The arts alliance will be a place-maker for the arts in St. Petersburg, similar to a local arts agency.

Collins is president of Organizational Advancement Consulting, which helps nonprofits in arts and education seek financial stability.

He recently served as the chair of St. Petersburg's Arts Advisory Committee and produced the St. Petersburg Arts and Culture Economic Survey Report.  

He also has served as:

• President and CEO for the Centre for the Arts in Boca Raton,
• Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Berklee College of Music
• Managing Director of the Arena Theatre at Tufts University.