New York Arts Center "The Shed" Names New CEO

Meredith Hodges, who was previously Executive Director of the Boston Ballet, will step into the role

Meredith Hodges succeeds Alex Poots, who was originally The Shed's CEO and Artistic Director; going forward he will hold only the latter role.

Hodges comes to The Shed from a nine-year stint as Executive Director of the Boston Ballet, one of the country's largest dance companies. During her time there, Hodges more than doubled the company's endowment, built its attendance to an all-time high, and spearheaded a range of diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Plans for The Shed began in 2005, but the venue did not open until April 2019, and therefore it had little time to establish itself in New York's cultural scene before the pandemic began. The Shed is envisioned as a space that functions equally well for all the arts: from pop to classical music, painting to digital media, theater to literature, and sculpture to dance.

"The Shed is an entrepreneurial and future-focused cultural organization," Hodges said. "It was built to anticipate the needs of artists, and the future of artmaking. I’m passionate about audience-building and about access, and I’m thrilled at the possibilities inherent in The Shed’s mission, its physical space, and its art."

"She is the right combination to join the Shed at this moment," said Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman of The Shed. "She is a proven leader who understands the business side of culture, but also has an affinity for the culture side of culture."