Anne Corbett to become project director for the Vision McMillan Partnership

Small world: I know Anne Corbett from back in the late 1990's when she, I and a bunch of artists (plus a realtor or two) formed an adhoc group called the NoMa Arts Coalition, whose goal was to secure artist owned live/work space in the District of Columbia.

Fast forward several years.  Anne has been running the Cultural Development Corporation, just renamed to CulturalDC, for years now.

And, as you can see from the Washington Business Journal article below, Anne has taken a position as Project Director for the Vision McMillan Partnership, effective in June.
           

Anne Corbett to leave CulturalDC for new position
Washington Business Journal by Missy Frederick, Staff Reporter
Date: Monday, May 14, 2012, 12:50pm EDT

Anne Corbett, who helped create the arts organization now known as CulturalDC, is leaving her position as executive director to pursue a job outside the industry.

Corbett is taking a position as project director for the Vision McMillan Partnership, which is overseeing the redevelopment of the 25-acre McMillan Sand Filtration Site in Northwest D.C. She will leave CulturalDC in June.

Corbett`s move comes as her former organization is rebranding itself. CulturalDC was known as Cultural Development Corp. until earlier this month.

``I think the organization is poised to figure out its next steps and could really benefit from someone with fresh skills,`` said Corbett. ``I have grown up with it, and it was my dream job. But at the same time, it`s a really good time for someone to come in with a different perspective.``

Under Corbett`s leadership, the group was responsible for introducing 18 new arts venues to the Washington area, equaling 250,000 square feet of arts space. During her tenure, she says, she`s most proud of accomplishments that include the opening of the Source Theatre in Logan Circle, her work on the Atlas Performing Arts Center in the H Street neighborhood and the creation of Flashpoint Gallery.

``The economy`s in an entirely different place than it has been, and some of the deals that we helped put together wouldn`t get done in today`s market,`` she said.

Corbett said the new position will allow her to get some experience in private commercial development, work with developers who inspire her like Jair Lynch, and contribute to a development that will help create a new neighborhood within the District.

``It`s an opportunity-of-a-lifetime kind of project,`` she said.

CulturalDC`s board of directors is initiating a national executive search led by President-elect Tanja Castro to find a replacement for Corbett. In the meantime, Deputy Director Travis Bowerman will serve as interim executive director.