The Boston Celebrity Chain announces the appointment of a new Artistic Director, Nicole Taney. Tani joins the celebrity chain’s senior leadership team in Boston from her current role as Director of Technical Planning and Operations at Spoleto Festival USA. As part of her new role as Artistic Director, Nicole Tani will oversee technical strategy and programming for the Celebrity Series, putting her vision at the forefront of artistic operations. As an innovative leader and strategist with years of experience across genres and disciplines, Tani appreciates the rich artistic tradition that the Celebrity Series brings to the performing arts industry and audiences throughout Greater Boston. Deeply committed to the organization’s mission, vision and values, Tani will usher in a bold and dynamic new phase for the Celebrity Series for the 2023/24 season and beyond.
Gary Dunning, President and CEO of Celebrity Series Boston, says, “After extensive research in partnership with the executive search team at Isaacson Miller, I am pleased to appoint Nicole Taney as the next Artistic Director of the Celebrity Series. Her experience as Director of Planning and Technical Operations at Spoleto Festival USA and her extensive background in The performing arts make her an ideal candidate to join our senior leadership team to help advance the Celebrity Series’ mission, vision and strategic goals. We can’t wait for her to arrive this summer.”
“Joining an organization like the Celebrity Series, with its internationally recognized reputation, is a privilege. Having seen the work of the series from afar, I am pleased to have had this opportunity to contribute my organizational perspective and management experience to the team,” says Nicole Taney, incoming Artistic Director of the Celebrity Series in Boston. Returning to Boston and partnering with an organization committed to diverse programming and meaningful community communications makes this decision full of incredible excitement and anticipation.”
The Celebrity Series thanks the executive search company, Isaacson Miller, for its support of the process and all staff, board members, and advisors who participated in the research.
About New Technical Director Nicole Tani
Nicole Taney is currently the Director of Planning and Technical Operations for Spoleto Festival USA, an annual multidisciplinary festival in Charleston, South Carolina, that offers more than 150 events in 17 days at venues throughout the Charleston area. Prior to joining Spoleto Festival USA, she worked as the Director of Production and Tours for Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Director of the New York City Ballet Company, and General Manager of Trisha Brown Dance Company. Early in her career, Nicole worked at Carnegie Hall and the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum. One of her first art positions in Boston was with the Children’s Museum.
Nicole has degrees from the University of Connecticut (Bachelor) and Columbia University (Master). Nicole has participated in numerous state, local and industry committees and presentations. She also worked as an Assistant Professor at the College of Charleston (SC).
About the Boston Celebrity Series
The Boston Celebrity Series was founded in 1938 by pianist and producer Aaron Richmond. The Celebrity Series has brought top performers – from orchestras and chamber ensembles, vocal and piano music, to dance companies, jazz, and more – to Boston’s premier concert halls for 84 years. The Boston Celebrity Series believes in the power of excellence and innovation in the performing arts to enrich life experiences, transform lives, and build better communities. The Celebrity Series, through its educational initiatives, strives to build a community in Greater Boston where the performing arts are a valuable, shared, lifelong experience on theaters, streets, and neighborhoods everywhere.
The Boston Celebrity Series expresses its gratitude to sponsors of the 2022/23 season Amy and Joshua Boger, Presentation Sponsor of Neighborhood Arts 2022/23, Stephanie L. Brown, and to the many individuals, companies, organizations, and government agencies whose support helps realize our mission to provide artists who inspire and enrich our community. Individual and institutional backers include Jill and David Altshuler, Leslie and Howard Appleby, the Barr Foundation through its ArtsAmplified Initiative, the Stephanie L. Brown Foundation, Julia Byers, Stephen Holtzman, Deloitte, D.L. Saunders Real Estate, Foley & Lardner LLP, and Kathleen & Chris Gaffney , Harriet and David Grizinger, Clarman Family Foundation, Peter and Anna Kolchinsky, Liberty Mutual Foundation, George & Lizbeth Krupp, Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation, Susanne Marcus Collins, Massachusetts Cultural Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Eleanor & Frank Pao , Stephen C. Perry & Oliver Radford, The Rabb Family Foundations, Cynthia and John S. Reed Foundation, The Reopen Creative Boston Fund managed by the Boston Office of Arts and Culture, Robin Reynolds, The Royal Little Family Foundation, Sally S. Seaver, Ph.D., Foundation Stifler Family Foundation, Belinda Termeer, Susan & Michael Thonis, US Small Business Administration, Dorothy & Stephen Weber, Yawkey Fo undation, Anonymous (3), and many others.
