Team Spirit Grows, Community Benefits at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center

Old Saybrook, CT – The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center is pleased to announce that Dana Foster joined the organization as Director of Development and External Relations in November.  Dana joins an already robust organization that has successfully operated for the past six years. 

Under the helm of a new Executive Director, Brett Elliott, the Kate is embracing the future by bringing in exciting new shows and bright new talent to bring up the energy and community engagement.  Prior to joining the Kate, Dana served as the Director of External Relations and Governance with Achievement First, a nonprofit dedicated to closing the achievement gap for inner city youth in the NY, CT and RI region. Dana’s background includes experience in for profit and not-for-profit business development and marketing, as well as general corporate law focusing on nonprofits and closely held companies.  She is a former board member and current education committee member with the Hartford Stage Company. She also served on the Kate’s gala committee for the past two years and has served on various community and professional boards during her career.  Dana holds a BA from Colby College, a JD from Boston College, a MBA from the University of Connecticut, and a MA focusing on organizational psychology from the University of Hartford.  Her office will be based in Old Saybrook. 

“We are delighted Dana has joined the leadership team of Michael Gatta, our Box Office Manager, and myself,” said the Kate’s executive director, Brett Elliott, “Her personal interest in the arts, her legal and business knowledge, and her ability to build relationships makes for a great fit to help the Kate grow and develop towards the future.  But most of all her energy helps build a solid team and foundation here that we are excited to see grow in the community and beyond.”

Dana shared, “I am thrilled to be part of such a dynamic and creative team.  It truly is a dream job in a dream place with dream people.  I look forward to bringing everything I have to make the Kate a success for many years to come.”

About the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center is a non-profit performing arts organization located in an historic theatre/town hall on Main Street in Old Saybrook. Originally opened in 1911 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Center has been renovated with public funds from the Town of Old Saybrook and donations raised by the Trustees of the Center. It includes a 250-seat theatre and a small museum honoring Katharine Hepburn, Old Saybrook’s most celebrated resident. As befits an organization born of such a public/private partnership, programming is eclectic, offering something for all ages and income levels on the Connecticut shore and in the lower river valley.