Member News and NASAA Resources

Steven Skerritt-Davis Is New ED in Maryland

Steven Skerritt-Davis has been named executive director of the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC). A longtime arts advocate and performer with more than 20 years’ experience in the arts sector, Skerritt-Davis joined the MSAC staff in 2017 as program director. He then served as deputy director for several years, overseeing the county arts agencies of Maryland, Arts & Entertainment Districts, and marketing and communications. He had been serving as interim executive director following the departure of Ken Skrzesz in June. Skerritt-Davis grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and danced professionally with Tulsa Ballet, American Ballet Theater Studio Company and Ballet West. After retiring from a 10-year career, he earned his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Brown University, where he focused on philanthropy and nonprofit management. Prior to joining MSAC, Skerritt-Davis worked as program coordinator for the National Dance Project at the New England Foundation for the Arts, and as director of external relations for Lumberyard Contemporary Performing Arts, where he helped secure grants and partnerships that brought the organization to national prominence. In addition, he helped conceive and initiate a creative placemaking effort for a dance residency facility in New York’s Hudson Valley.

Doubly Grateful!

We’re over the moon! We met (and surpassed!) our $50,000 match—which means we’ll get an additional $50,000, for a total of $100,000 for NASAA. Thank you to everyone who participated in our All In for the Arts matching gift campaign—you made it happen!

To make this success even sweeter, over the past year we raised $149,000 in individual giving, surpassing our annual fundraising goal by 19%. We’re so grateful to everyone who contributed to NASAA’s Annual Fund in 2021. Your support will help us do more to strengthen state arts agencies and grow public support for the arts in 2022. With you by our side, our hearts our full and our spirits are invigorated—what an incredible way to start the new year. Thank you!