Press Releases

For Immediate Release:

March 27, 2008

Contact:

Sophia Cotton, Marketing Manager

Madison Park Development Corporation

(617) 849-6223

scotton@madison-park.org

Michelle Baxter has joined Madison Park Development Corporation as the Director of ACT (Arts, Culture & Trade) Roxbury, a highly successful cultural economic development program promoting local artists. Michelle takes over a ten-year old program that has helped make Dudley Square a popular destination for anyone interested in Roxbury arts and culture.

ACT Roxbury is well known for its establishment of annual programming bringing visibility and economic benefit to Roxbury, including the Roxbury Film Festival, Roxbury Literary Annual, Open Studios and the Roxbury Performance Series. The Roxbury Film Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary this summer and will feature highly-regarded local film-makers as well as Hollywood actors and directors. In May the Roxbury Literary Annual will publish diverse works by over 30 local teen writers, each of whom completed an intensive writing camp with a focus on spoken word performance. The Roxbury Performance Series regularly brings local theater companies, dance troupes and authors to Dudley Square, including a recent appearance by Amiri Baraka, celebrated poet, activist and founder of the 1960’s Black Arts Movement. This fall, Roxbury Open Studios will again highlight the work of Roxbury’s skilled visual artists and artisans.

Much of ACT’s programming takes place at the historic Roxbury Center for Arts at Hibernian Hall, located in Dudley Square. Vacant for many years, the building re-opened in 2005 following a complete renovation by Madison Park. Hibernian Hall’s centerpiece is its grand ballroom, where much of ACT’s programming occurs, as well as a variety of community meetings and cultural events. With over 12,000 people visiting the ballroom annually, Hibernian Hall brings vitality to Dudley Square’s night life.

“I am thrilled to have Michelle join Madison Park’s senior management team” says Jeanne Pinado, CEO of Madison Park Development Corporation. “She brings a wealth of experience and commitment to the arts and cultural economic development. With Michelle’s leadership, ACT Roxbury will continue to promote excellence, access and diversity in the arts community and contribute to the economic development of Roxbury and beyond.”

With many years of experience in arts programming and administration in Boston’s cultural arts communities and neighborhoods, Michelle brings her arts management skills and appreciation for cultural diversity to ACT. Michelle recently served as the Director of Performing Arts and Outreach for the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events. Michelle has been the Manager of the Strand Theater, responsible for oversight of artistic programming, box office management, bookings and contract negotiations.

At the Boston Center for the Arts, Michelle was the Director of Programs and also served as the organization’s Interim CEO. During her tenure at the BCA, Michelle founded an annual series of cultural arts festivals and formed standing advisory boards representing diverse ethnic constituencies. She also created In-The-Round, a community arts discussion series.

An accomplished artist herself, Michelle has ten years of experience directing plays for playwrights and theater companies including Renita Martin, African American Theater Company, David Valdes Greenwood and Company One.

To attend any of ACT's upcoming events visit the calendar section of ACTRoxbury.org for dates, time and venue.

ACT Roxbury is the cultural economic development program of Madison Park Development Corporation. ACT (Arts, Culture & Trade) Roxbury celebrates culture and the arts and uses these assets to foster the physical, economic, and social revitalization of Roxbury. ACT Roxbury is taking decisive action to reflect, preserve, and nurture arts, culture, and trade for the benefit of the Roxbury community.

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