FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Great Barrington, Mass.—The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Diane Wortis as Director of Advancement. She will assume her new position at the theater on February 3.
Wortis will work with Mahaiwe senior leadership to envision, plan, and execute a wellrounded and strategic fundraising program, supervise the development staff to achieve all major gift, special event, and contributed income goals, and help establish new campaign initiatives for the Mahaiwe’s strength and sustainability.
“Diane is a dynamic and strategic fundraising professional with deep experience in and a passion for the non-profit arts world. She has successfully managed teams, rallied volunteers, generated community connections, and led multiple campaigns to establish a strong track record of securing gifts at all levels,” said Mahaiwe Acting Executive Director Janis Martinson. “I am especially pleased that she is joining the Mahaiwe in its fifteenth anniversary season as we look toward significant fundraising to extend our programming reach and maintain our treasured historic theater.”
Prior to joining the Mahaiwe, Wortis was Director of Development at the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, Mass., where she served as chief strategist for fundraising and oversaw a development program that included major, annual, and planned giving; individual and business membership; special events; and foundation and government support. Her professional experience also includes ten years at Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Mass., most recently as Director of Development and Alumnae Relations. Previously, she held senior development roles at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Austen Riggs Center, Boston Arts Academy Foundation, The Cambridge Center for Adult Education, Harvard University, and Huntington Theatre Company. She also served as Chair of the Somerville Arts Council and was a founding member of the Berkshire County Development Alliance. She holds a BA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and an MBA from Simmons College’s School of Management.
“Since 2002, I have lived two blocks up the street from the Mahaiwe and I have a deep love for and commitment to the Berkshires. Both of my kids, now young adults, are products of the public schools in Great Barrington. My son played on the Mahaiwe’s stage as part of the band program at Monument Mountain High School, and both kids attended performances throughout their education thanks to Mahaiwe’s partnerships with the local schools,” said Wortis. “My entire family has spent many an evening or weekend afternoon at the Mahaiwe listening to live music, watching dance, attending a benefit performance, or taking in an old-fashioned movie. I’m a longtime Mahaiwe member and am extraordinarily proud to now be doing my part to support the arts and community programming in my own backyard.”
About the Mahaiwe
Located in downtown Great Barrington, Mass., the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is the year-round presenter of world-class music, dance, theater, classic films, Live in HD broadcasts, and arts education programs for the southern Berkshires and neighboring regions. The intimate jewel box of a theater opened in 1905. Since 2005, the performing arts center has hosted over 1,500 events and welcomed over half a million people through its doors. More than 22,000 students from 73 different schools have benefited from the Mahaiwe’s school-time performances and residencies. For more information, see www.mahaiwe.org.
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