Leatrice Ellzy

Leatrice Ellzy is a seasoned arts leader, curator, producer, thinker and fan of disruption. She is currently the Sr. Director of Programming at the Apollo Theater where she serves as a primary steward of the Apollo’s artistic vision and helps shape the strategic program direction of one of New York City’s most vital performing arts centers, and one of the world’s most recognized and celebrated artistic brands. Her unique skill set has developed over 31 years of experience in nonprofit management and development, broadcast, media relations, arts presenting & technology.

Her arts management and administration experience developed through work at Woodruff Arts Center and the National Black Arts Festival (NBAF). She was the Project Director of Spirit and Splendor: A Celebration of African American Art and Culture at the Woodruff Arts Center. Its success launched the long running Celebrate Diversity initiative. While at Woodruff she collaborated with NBAF, leading them to invite her to work with the Festival in 2002. She produced for NBAF from 2002-2005. In 2005 she was hired to manage the organization's artistic programming and later became the organization’s 5th Artistic Director. She most recently completed her four year tenure as Executive Director of Atlanta's Hammonds House Museum. She was charged with reimagining the organization for the 21st century in terms of strategies for institutional sustainability and artistic focus. Her curatorial choices, cultural focus and community engagement programming repositioned the museum and increased visits, memberships, donations and visibility.

Leatrice is active in the field and is frequently asked to sit on panels, serve on advisory committees and participate in conversations about the state of the arts nationally, regionally and locally. Her past and present professional affiliations include Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Fractured Atlas, Women of Color in the Arts, the Contemporary African Arts Consortium, C4 Atlanta, Idea Capital, Fulton County Arts Council, LANE National Advisory Committee and the National Performance Network.