Brad Lister

About Me | Leadership Style | Financial Management

Engagement & Partnerships | Planning | Communication

Events | Cultural Service | Presentations

Leadership Style

My leadership style is best described as one of compassionate resolve, balancing a clear vision with a deep commitment to the success and well-being of my team. I believe in establishing ambitious yet attainable goals, working collaboratively to ensure that each team member feels ownership over their contributions. At the same time, I recognize that individuals are not defined solely by their productivity—unexpected challenges arise, and true leadership means offering support rather than simply marking a goal as unmet. By fostering an environment where flexibility and accountability coexist, I help my team navigate obstacles while still striving for excellence. This approach not only strengthens morale but also ensures that progress, even when not linear, remains meaningful and forward-moving.

Financial Management

Managing financial resources effectively has been a key aspect of my career, ensuring that arts organizations remain sustainable while expanding access to cultural programming. I have led financial planning initiatives, secured competitive grants of up to $150,000, and worked with donors and sponsors to establish long-term funding streams.

A significant part of my work has involved aligning financial strategies with community and organizational goals, ensuring that cultural programs remain well-funded while maximizing public impact. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I re-forecasted financial projections and implemented cost-effective measures that allowed performances to continue while maintaining financial stability. My experience in fiscal oversight also includes working with public funding sources, managing grant compliance, and ensuring financial transparency.

Community Engagement & Cultural Partnerships

Building strong community relationships has been central to my work in arts administration. I have successfully developed partnerships with local governments, universities, artists, and nonprofit organizations to create programs that reflect the interests and needs of diverse communities.

Through my leadership, I have designed and implemented community-centered arts initiatives that increase participation and ensure that cultural programming is accessible to a broad audience. I have worked closely with local leaders, businesses, and civic groups to position the arts as an essential part of the community. My ability to align cultural programming with community priorities has led to collaborations that support artists, engage audiences, and elevate the visibility of arts organizations.

One of my signature projects involved establishing a national show choir competition, which brought together student performers from across the country and engaged local businesses, schools, and arts organizations in a shared cultural experience. This initiative provided opportunities for young performers while reinforcing the role of the arts in education and community development.

Strategic Planning & Program Development

A data-driven approach to cultural programming has been central to my work, ensuring that initiatives align with both organizational objectives and audience needs. My experience in planning, research, and program evaluation has allowed me to measure the impact of initiatives and refine programs for long-term success.

I have developed policies that increased public engagement, including strategies that successfully transitioned single-ticket buyers into long-term patrons and donors. By using audience research and program analytics, I have improved outreach efforts and ensured that programs remain relevant and accessible.

In addition to financial and audience-driven strategies, I have worked extensively in contract negotiation and program structuring, ensuring that agreements with artists, sponsors, and community partners align with institutional goals and budgetary frameworks. Through thoughtful planning, I have been able to strengthen arts organizations while ensuring that programs continue to serve a wide-ranging audience.

Communication & Marketing

Effective storytelling and branding are essential in building strong audience relationships and ensuring the success of cultural programs. I have led marketing efforts that increased attendance, strengthened donor engagement, and expanded public awareness of arts initiatives.

My experience includes overseeing digital and print marketing campaigns to promote cultural events to a wide range of audiences. By using audience data and survey insights, I have refined outreach strategies and improved engagement across multiple platforms. I have also worked closely with media partners, crafted press materials, and developed communications strategies that positioned arts organizations as key contributors to public life.

Through a combination of marketing, public relations, and direct community outreach, I have ensured that cultural institutions not only reach but actively connect with their audiences in meaningful ways.

Cultural Events & Programming

Developing, producing, and managing live performances and cultural events has been a major focus of my career. I have curated programs that span music, theater, literary events, and interdisciplinary performances, ensuring that they resonate with audiences while meeting organizational and community goals.

A critical part of this work has been contract negotiation, ensuring that agreements between artists, agents, and venues align with both creative vision and financial sustainability. I have successfully negotiated performance contracts, balancing artist requirements with budgetary constraints while maintaining strong professional relationships. My experience includes working with national and international artists, securing fair and mutually beneficial agreements that ensure high-quality programming and smooth production logistics.

Beyond securing talent, I have overseen every aspect of event planning, from coordinating artist services and production needs to managing audience engagement strategies. I have worked with performance venues of all sizes, from intimate concert spaces to large arenas, ensuring seamless coordination between artists, production teams, and front-of-house operations.

I also bring experience in designing events that go beyond the performance itself, incorporating educational components such as masterclasses, artist talks, and community outreach initiatives. One of my signature projects involved developing a national show choir competition, which provided a high-level performance platform while also offering workshops and mentorship opportunities for young artists.

By integrating strong organizational planning with creative programming and effective contract negotiation, I ensure that events are not only artistically successful but also well-managed, accessible, and financially sustainable.

Cultural Service & Advocacy

Beyond my professional roles, I have been actively involved in arts advocacy and public service, working to ensure that cultural institutions receive the recognition and support they need to thrive. My work has included serving on arts advisory boards, engaging in discussions with policymakers, and developing partnerships between public and private sectors to advance arts initiatives.

I have worked to secure public and private funding for the arts, ensuring that cultural organizations have the resources they need to grow. My efforts have also included expanding access to cultural programs, developing initiatives that engage a broad audience, and ensuring that arts organizations are positioned as essential contributors to the community.

Through strategic leadership and public engagement, I have helped strengthen the arts sector while reinforcing its role in economic and community development.

Presentations

• “A Path-dependent Approach to Cultural Programming in the Former Soviet Republics.” Arts in Society Conference. Krakow, Poland (July 2023)
• “Meeting Effectiveness as an Alternative to Measuring Outcomes to Assess Effective Strategic Planning Processes.” Southeastern Arts Leadership Educators (SALE) Conference. Charleston, SC (Invited; February 2022)
• “Planning Strategically: Repositioning for a New Reality.” Chorus America Conference. Miami, FL (Virtual; June 2020)
• “Nesting Organizational Theories in Nonprofit Arts Organizations: Agency Theory and Stakeholder Theory.” Southeastern Arts Leadership Educators (SALE) Conference. Charleston, SC (February 2020)
• “Negotiating Dramatic Reductions to Grant Funding in the Arts: A Look at Florida in 2018.” Arts in Society Conference. Lisbon, Portugal (June 2019)
• “Why Inclusion Matters and What it Looks Like: A Partnership Between Community Choirs and Homeless Service Organizations.” Arts Leadership Conference. Seattle, WA (March 2019)
• “Building an Identity through Arts Education.” Arts In Society Conference. Vancouver, BC, Canada (June 2018)
• “No Piano Skills? No Accompanist? No Problem!” Florida Music Education Association Conference. Tampa, FL (January 2011)