Colleen McCartney currently serves as the as the Grants and Initiatives Manager for ArtsMemphis after having completed a B.A. in Anthropology from Texas Tech University and an M.A in Applied Anthropology with a concentration in Globalization, Development and Culture and a Museum Studies certificate from the University of Memphis. Colleen’s position allows her to serve a broad and diverse community, administering over 160 grants totaling nearly $2.5 million dollars, benefiting over 75 art organizations and artists in the Memphis metroplex. These grants help to sustain Memphis’ world-renowned cultural vitality and strengthen local communities through the arts. Prior to working at ArtsMemphis, she held programming and administrative positions at various museums, including the National Civil Rights Museum. While an undergraduate she held leadership positions in her local chapter of her service sorority, Gamma Alpha Omega, as well as serving as Student Director on its National Board. She has continued her community service as a member of the Junior League of Memphis. Her life-long passion for art, culture and community service led to her role at ArtsMemphis, where she is honored to able to experience and influence the transformative power of the arts every day.

Cristyn Johnson is the Local Arts Advancement Program Manager at Americans for the Arts. In this capacity, she develops Americans for the Arts’ comprehensive full-career-spectrum field education offerings to advance competent and informed local, regional and national arts professionals.  She also develops a suite of programs and resources centered around the full leadership pipeline and organizational needs of a diverse workforce. She manages, grows, and cultivates an Emerging Leaders Network, a Mid-Career Leaders Network, and an Executive Leaders Network by building a connected network of arts professionals in the field of practices, who can share their knowledge with the field at large.