Karen A. Fischer

Karen A. Fischer founded Pasifika Artists Network in 2009, the only agency in Hawai‘i promoting national and international touring for the performing arts of Hawai‘i and the Pacific. The Pasifika roster reflects traditional and contemporary performing arts in music, dance, and spoken word. Prior to launching her agency, she was President & CEO of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (MACC), a multi-disciplinary presenting and arts education organization, having previously served as its managing director (1998-2009); among other accomplishments, she created and directed the MACC’s presenting program for 10 years. With over 30 years of national arts management experience, Karen’s background ranges from presenting and community-based organizations to fundraising, finance, strategic planning, and marketing. Before joining the MACC, she was at Cal Performances, University of California, Berkeley, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, The Joffrey Ballet in New York/Los Angeles, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She is active in the field, serving on boards (Academy of Hawaiian Music, and previously, Maui Academy of Performing Arts, Western Arts Alliance, Performing Arts Presenters of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Association of Music Societies) and peer review panels (National Endowment for the Arts, State Foundation for Culture and the Arts, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority). Her career included dancing with Aman Folk Ensemble in Los Angeles.