Martine Elyse Philippe has been appointed as the city of Dallas’ director of the Office of Arts & Culture. Philippe, who has been noted for her “portfolio career,” brings a unique set of skills to the role as a trained dancer, choreographer, board director, and program manager with 15 years of experience as an arts administrator.
She succeeds Jennifer Scripps who became president and CEO of Downtown Dallas Inc.
Arts-based leadership
A Haitian-Cuban American, Philippe comes to Dallas having served as the National Community Art Manager for A Window Between Worlds (AWBW) based in Los Angeles and as the chair of the District 12 Arts Task Force for the Atlanta City Council. In her role with AWBW, Philippe was the national creative strategist for developing art-based leadership and resources to transform trauma and create community-based methods of change and social justice through art, according to a city statement.
Philippe’s art administration experience spans the city government and nonprofit sectors. She began her arts administration career with the city of Atlanta where she developed a dance curriculum and became Cultural Affairs Project coordinator for the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
Philippe, who has a bachelor of arts in African American Studies from the University of Georgia and a Master of Arts in Education Leadership from Argosy University, has served in many leadership roles, such as the executive director of Atlanta’s Resource for Entertainment & Arts.
“Always ready to talk art and culture”
The leader shared her insight into how art education has a positive impact in the community in a recent Music Life Social video. “Always ready to talk art and culture,” Philippe told the web channel.
The native New Yorker described her transition from professional dancer and choreographer to arts administrator. At her core is a mission to help get rid of barriers: Equitable access to arts and culture is life-changing, she said.
Quincy Preston contributed to this report.
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