Jamie Grant

Jamie Grant has been a leader and innovator in the performing arts for more than three decades. Described as a “numbers guy” with a focus on the big picture and metrics; combined with the passion for great work and a love of fundraising to make it happen. He was recruited to join the McCallum Theatre as President and CEO during the pandemic and prepared the institution for re-opening with an emphasis on safety protocols and investments; donor relations; and changing the corporate culture. The Theatre was one of the few in the country to refund 100% of ticket sales for postponed and cancelled performances.

Jamie was the President and CEO of Ordway Center of the Performing Arts in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Ordway, recognized as one of the United States’ leading not-for-profit performing arts centers, is home to a wide variety of performances throughout the year that encompass the finest in American musical theater, world music, dance, and vocal artists in its Music Theater and its Concert Hall. Ordway is home to the Flint Hills International Children’s Festival, one of the top festivals of its kind in America. Under Jamie’s guidance, the organization implemented a strategic plan that focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion, community engagement, sustainability, and telling the unique Ordway story.

Prior to arriving in the Twin Cities, Jamie was the President and CEO of the Long Center in Austin, Texas. He was hired following an international search to develop a sustainable operating plan for the performing arts center. The Long Center opened in 2008 to great acclaim, but without a clear plan to meet the very high expectations set for it. It is a complex organization with many competing interests. Jamie began work in September 2011 and has transformed the organization. Following four years of shortfalls (the facility opened with seven figure deficits) Long Center had three consecutive years with six figure operating surpluses and a dramatic increase in attendance (all done without any operating subsidy). The Long Center has become a focal point in Austin.

For 13 years Jamie was the general manager of the Centre in the Square in Kitchener, Ontario, an award-winning multi-purpose performing arts center with a main hall of 2000 seats, plus an art gallery and studio theatre. During his tenure at CITS the venue became and remained debt and deficit-free, with working capital and an endowment fund. Jamie has accomplished the rare feat of opening many new performing arts centers, including Imperial Theatre in Saint John, NB, Heritage Theatre in Brampton, ON, Skylight Theatre in Toronto and was the founder and Producer of Theatre Malton.

Jamie is a founding member of Canada’s National Theatre Festival - Magnetic North Theatre Festival, and served as Chairman of the Board; he helped to found eye-GO to the Arts, a program designed to encourage youth to attend the performing arts and was the founding Chair (eye-GO, which began in Kitchener-Waterloo has now become a national program in Canada and is also a success in many States in the US); he helped to found the organization that became the Atlantic Presenters Association (APA); he is Past-President of CAPACOA (Canadian Arts Presenting Association) and Ontario Presents; he is the founding Chairman of the Board of the Alliance for a Grand Community (a unique multi-disciplinary alliance of the leading arts organizations in the KW area); and he was instrumental in developing a block booking model which is used throughout Canada today.

Community service is a hallmark of Jamie’s leadership, and he was the Treasurer of the Minnesota Citizen’s for the Arts, served on the Boards of Texas State Arts Board, Canada’s Technology Triangle, Creative Enterprise, and Grand River Hospital Foundation. Jamie was an active member of the Broadway League, is a current member of the national board of Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP). An adjunct lecturer at the University of Waterloo, Jamie taught for almost a decade for the Centre for Cultural Management and is a regular lecturer, panelist and guest speaker for other universities, colleges, and professional conferences.