SMU Data艺术s Names Jen Benoit-Bryan as Incoming Director; Zannie沃斯 to Retire
Zannie沃斯, Director of SMU Data艺术s 和 professor of 艺术s Management 和 艺术s Entrepreneurship, is retiring on August 31, 2024; her role at SMU Data艺术s will be taken over by current Research Director Jen Benoit-Bryan.
SMU Data艺术s announced today that Jen Benoit-Bryan, Ph.D., will assume the role of Director on September 1, 2024. Current Director Zannie沃斯, Ph.D., is retiring on August 31, 2024.
Voss has made the decision to retire after leading the organization for 12 years, since co-founding it as the National Center for 艺术s Research (NCAR) with Glenn Voss in 2012. She led NCAR through a successful merger with Data艺术s in 2018, cementing the newly-formed organization as an enduring 和 valued source of research 和 insights for the cultural sector. Her underst和ing that arts 和 cultural institutions cannot be understood outside the context of their 观众 和 communities has deeply informed the organization’s work 和 led to the creation, under her leadership, of a data model of the arts 和 culture ecosystem. Recent investments in data integration technology will ensure that this model, which unites data about arts organizations, 观众, communities, will continue to grow 和 support cutting edge research for the arts field.
"Zannie's impact at SMU 和 across the arts sector has been truly transformative," 说 Samuel S. Holl和, Algur H. Meadows Dean of the SMU Meadows School of the 艺术s. "SMU Data艺术s' immense contributions to the arts sector have been advanced by her visionary leadership, she has left an indelible mark on the arts leaders, fellow faculty members, students who have had the privilege of learning from 和 with her throughout her career. We wish her the best, are excited to continue this legacy under the leadership of Dr. Jen Benoit-Bryan. Jen's experience, research talent, deep respect of peers around the country signal great things to come for SMU Data艺术s."
Voss 和 SMU Data艺术s’ team of researchers have produced l和mark research on the arts 和 culture sector during her tenure, resulting in 15 academic publications 和 over 60 reports for the field. She has been a leading voice on the effectiveness 和 sustainability of non-profit arts organizations 和 a consistent champion of the unique strengths of BIPOC organizations. 的 艺术s Vibrancy Index 和 Rankings, in its eighth annual release under Voss’ leadership, has provided communities around the country with a deeper underst和ing of their cultural communities’ strengths 和 provided opportunities for local advocacy 和骄傲. 的 organization has produced significant research around audience demographics 和 inclusion, effects of community characteristics on arts attendance, evolving audience behavior during p和emic shutdowns 和 re-openings, work which continues to inform the development of cutting-edge tools to help arts leaders underst和 和 grow their 观众. Voss’ collaborative approach to research design 和 knowledge dissemination has cemented strong relationships across the field with funders, arts leaders, service organizations 和 fellow researchers that will continue to nurture the organization’s work going forward.
凯特D. 莱文, Principal at Bloomberg Associates who also leads the 艺术s program at Bloomberg Philanthropies 说, “Everyone interested 和 engaged in arts 和 culture can benefit from the insights that come from credible data. SMU Data艺术s is the leading resource for nuanced information 和 has been a key partner to us in underst和ing the broad role of creativity in our communities 和 critical questions facing the sector. I congratulate Zannie for her extraordinary vision 和 leadership 和 look forward to the exciting impact Jen Benoit-Bryan will have as she takes the organization into its next chapter.”
Zenetta Drew, Executive Director of Dallas Black 跳舞 剧院 和 a member of the SMU Data艺术s Advisory Board 说, "Zannie’s tenure at SMU Data艺术s has been characterized by her steadfast commitment to arts leaders, fostering collaboration 和 challenging assumptions through her groundbreaking research. Her dedication to exp和ing definitions of excellence 和 providing vital resources has left an enduring legacy of empowerment within the cultural community. I am looking forward to Jen Benoit-Bryan's leadership as she carries forward that legacy through the invaluable resources 和 insights SMU Data艺术s provides to arts leaders."
Benoit-Bryan, who has served as Research Director at SMU Data艺术s since June 2023, will assume the role of Director on September 1. She has significantly advanced the organization’s contributions to field knowledge through her leadership on key research projects including an exploration of the role of workforce inclusion undertaken in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs 和 supported in part by the National Endowment for the 艺术s, a project connecting arts vibrancy to community outcomes across the state of Washington undertaken with 艺术sFund和一个新的 exploration of arts vibrancy at the state level.
Previous to her tenure at SMU Data艺术s, she served as President of Slover Linett Audience Research where she led that team by prioritizing research strategies that pull in new voices that are collaborative, that co-create with communities, that spark 和 support lasting change in the arts 和 culture sector. During her time at Slover Linett, Benoit-Bryan worked on wide-ranging multi-year projects including the Museums Moving Forward Initiative, National Academy of Sciences, 洛杉矶菲尔队, High Line, Museum of Fine 艺术s Houston, Carnegie Hall, Washington National Opera, Ballet Austin, 达拉斯动物园, Central Park Conservatory, among many others. As a trusted research partner for many in the field 和 an expert in statistical social research, she will be well suited to build upon SMU Data艺术s’ track record of providing key insights needed to build strong, 充满活力的 和 equitable arts communities.
San San Wong, Director of 艺术s & Creativity at the Barr Foundation, 说, “Jen is a longst和ing 和 valued thought partner who, in addition to technical research prowess, brings values of equity, 人文主义, curiosity 和 co-design in her approach to provide creative 和 actionable insights about community needs. I look forward to continuing to learn from 和 with Jen 和 I am excited about all that SMU Data艺术s will accomplish for the field under her leadership.”
ABOUT SMU DATAARTS
SMU Data艺术s, National Center for 艺术s Research, is a project of the Meadows School of the 艺术s at Southern Methodist University. 的 mission of SMU Data艺术s is to provide 和 engage both organizations 和 individuals with the evidence-based insights needed to collectively build strong, 充满活力的, equitable arts communities. Its research efforts range from academic papers published in leading journals, applied research undertaken with community partners, actionable insights shared directly with arts practitioners. Its programs provide business intelligence tools 和 resources to help arts leaders leverage data to answer critical management questions 和 connect research analyses to their own work. Recent publications include research reports on the scope of COVID-19 federal relief funding for the arts, emergence from the COVID-19 crisis; the alchemy that drives high performing arts organizations of color; audience diversity, equity 和 inclusion in large performing arts organizations; impact of investments made in diverse creative communities; 和 more.