STAFF
Lucy Sexton
Executive Director
Lucy Sexton (she/her) is a Brooklyn born producer, administrator, and performing artist who has worked in the fields of dance, performance, film, and public advocacy. She has served as Executive Director of the NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, building them for the first time into an independent organization. From 2013-16 she worked as a Consulting Associate Artistic Director of the planned performing arts center at the World Trade Center, conducting field-wide outreach and developing the center’s artistic mission and plan. As a dance artist she works with Anne Iobst creating and performing the dance performance duo DANCENOISE which was founded in 1983, had a retrospective exhibit and performance at the Whitney Museum in 2015, and premiered a new piece at NY Live Arts in 2018. She has also directed and dramaturged plays by Spalding Gray, Tom Murrin, Nora Burns, and Heather Litteer; and produced documentaries by Charles Atlas for the BBC and Arte. | lucy@ny4ca.org
photo credit: AK47 Division
Peter Alfred Elizalde
Director of Programs and Artist Advocacy
Peter Alfred Elizalde (they/them) is an interdisciplinary performance artist, dancer, choreographer, arts administrator and nightlife aficionado and professional currently residing in unceded Lenape-Canarsie territory known as Brooklyn, NY. They have performed under the direction of choreographers Ljuba Castot and John Alix and have appeared on stage and on camera with artists such as Kay Day, Honey Davenport and the Haus of Quench. They look forward to being able to serve the cultural sector in this capacity and to bringing the many intersections of their work, life, and identity to New Yorkers for Culture and Arts | peter@ny4ca.org
photo credit: Michelle Mor @kosher_butch
Kneaku
WILLIAMS
Director Membership and Communications
Kneaku Ashaè (they/them) is a community organizer and performance artist. They have a diverse background in project coordination, performance arts, and event production, with experience in both freelance and corporate settings. Graduated with Bachelors in Digital Media & Theatre Arts they are a storyteller of many mediums. They have a passion for bringing events to life and capturing moments through digital media. With six years of experience in the fast-paced environment of NYC, they have a wealth of knowledge and skills to offer the sector.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2024
Co Chairs
Jacqueline Davis, OneShared.World, Brademas Center NYC Council
Joan Firestone, Arts activist, philanthropist, Board Member En Garde Arts
Board Treasurer
April Drummond, NY Hall of Science,
Board Secretary
Amy Andrieux, MoCADA Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts
Broad Members
Ted Berger, NY Creates, Joan Mitchell Foundation
Christopher Bloodworth, The Field
John Calvelli, Public Affairs, Wildlife Conservation Society
Alejandra Duque Cifuentes, Cultural Strategist, Principal, ADC Consulting LLC
Lorna Harris, Visionary GPS consulting
Cathy Hung, NYC Children’s Theater
Ellen Leszynski, BAM
Mike Marinello, JP Morgan Chase
Eve Moros Ortega, Lord Cultural Resources
Daisy Rodriguez, Wildlife Conservation Society
Shadawn Smith, Billie Holiday Theatre/Bed Stuy Restoration
Michael Unthank, Independent Arts Consultant
Banner photo credit: Anne Tan Detchkov