Executive Director, Xavier Verna, arrived at the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts (RRCA) in 2017 after having served for five years as Director of Education for the Sphinx Organization in Detroit, MI. Xavier is also involved in state-wide efforts to support other Michigan arts and cultural organizations as a governor-appointed council member for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and serves on three boards including the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, So Percussion, and as past president for the Michigan Presenters Network.
Xavier brings collaborative energy from his time at Sphinx. At Sphinx, Xavier expanded its educational programming profile to a national level, which received one of the highest honors at the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards, hosted by former First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. He oversaw the development of local and national programming. In Detroit and Flint, Xavier worked with 12-15 schools annually to provide free after-school programming on violin. He led summer programs while working with major institutions such as Roosevelt University, Oberlin Conservatory, and Cleveland Institute of Music. in 2013, Xavier launched the annual conference on diversity in the arts, SphinxConnect (formerly known as SphinxCon), inviting 30 speakers from the national and international sector.
Xavier’s collaborative energy has increased partnerships within the Manistee community with local and regional business leaders and corporations to support programming and operations at the RRCA. Xavier has transformed the performing and visual arts programs at the Ramsdell by diversifying its content making them more accessible to everyone. He strengthens existing programs through successful fundraising that advance the mission and fund major capital investments. More recently he has led the transformation of the art gallery space in Hardy Hall and state-of-the-art upgrades to the Ramsdell Theatre’s sound system.