City Hires New Cultural Affairs Manager

The City of Santa Monica Community and Cultural Services Department has hired Shannon Daut to lead its Cultural Affairs Division. Daut comes to Santa Monica from the Alaska State Council of the Arts-a statewide organization that represents, supports, and advances the creative endeavors of individuals, organizations, and agencies throughout Alaska. She served as its Executive Director for five years. Daut is on the board of the National Performance Network and the Western States Arts Federation.

"I look forward to having Shannon join the Community and Cultural Services Department as the Cultural Affairs Manager," said Community and Cultural Services Director Karen Ginsberg. "As a proven leader with deep knowledge in arts programming and cultural policy planning, I am confident that she will build on our existing strengths and bring new ideas and opportunities for the advancement of the arts in Santa Monica."

As the Cultural Affairs Manager, Daut will develop and direct a range of cultural affairs programs and services for the public. She will promote the arts in Santa Monica in collaboration with non-profit organizations and the local artist community, and develop policy recommendations regarding cultural and arts programming in the community.

"I am thrilled to be joining the Community and Cultural Services Department and the Cultural Affairs Division team," said Daut. "The City's cultural assets, including its incredible concentration of artists and creatives, makes it a wonderfully fertile environment to accomplish great things. I am particularly excited to work with the broad community to envision new ways that the arts-and artists-can contribute to Santa Monica's rich cultural environment."

Prior to her work in Alaska, Daut was Deputy Director of the Western States Arts Federation where she oversaw the organization's work in the areas of cultural policy and technology. She received her bachelor's

degree in Communication Arts/Film from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her graduate degree in Communication/Rhetoric from the University of Colorado-Denver.

Daut starts on Monday, May 9.

Constance Farrell

Public Information Coordinator

Office of Communications, City