The city of Chandler has appointed Julianna Crespo, a performing arts executive with more than 14 years of experience leading programming, venue operations, audience development and organizational strategy, as the new general manager of Chandler Center for the Arts.
The city of Chandler has appointed Julianna Crespo, a performing arts executive with more than 14 years of experience leading programming, venue operations, audience development and organizational strategy, as the new general manager of Chandler Center for the Arts.
Crespo will begin in her new role on Monday, Aug. 10, as the Center prepares to reopen this October following a major renovation and enters a new chapter of strategic planning, community investment and artistic growth, according to a news release.
Following a national search with more than 240 applicants, Crespo was selected for her collaborative leadership style, nonprofit executive experience and track record of building partnerships that advance arts education, workforce development and community impact.
“Julianna brings exactly the combination of strategic leadership, operational excellence and collaborative leadership we were seeking,” said Kim Moyers, Chandler’s cultural development director, stated in the news release. “Her experience expanding youth arts education, developing community collaborations and strengthening relationships with schools, local governments and nonprofits, aligns perfectly with the Center’s mission.”
Most recently, Crespo served as executive director of Mosaic Theatricals in Escondido, Calif., where she led the organization’s transition to an independent nonprofit while expanding professional theatre productions, youth arts education and workforce development initiatives.
Prior to that, Crespo spent more than a decade at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, where she curated the presented season and oversaw programming, patron services, community events, rentals and box office operations, presenting nationally and internationally recognized artists across theatre, music, comedy, family entertainment and cultural events.
Rooted in her Chicana heritage, Crespo credits the mentors who encouraged and challenged her throughout her career and is passionate about creating those same opportunities for the next generation of arts leaders, the release states.
“From my very first conversations, it was clear that the city’s commitment to the arts is matched by an extraordinary team of dedicated staff, volunteers, board members, patrons, artists and community partners who care deeply about the Center and its role here,” Crespo stated.
Crespo added that she’s especially grateful to Michelle MacLennan for the foundation she has built through her years of leadership.
She states she’s looking forward to collaborating with the City of Chandler’s Cultural Development team, the Chandler Cultural Foundation Board, Chandler Unified School District, resident companies and community partners.
The Chandler Center for the Arts is a partnership between the city, the Foundation and CUSD, serving as both a performing arts venue and an educational and community resource.
Following its October 2026 reopening after a major renovation, Crespo will help lead development of a new strategic plan while guiding the Center’s next chapter of artistic and community impact.
In March 2027, the Center will present the world premiere of “Yellowroot: A Juke Joint Cabaret” as one of the highlights of a season headed in a new direction, the release states.
The city engaged Arts Consulting Group, a national advisory firm specializing in executive search and organizational planning for arts and cultural organizations, to conduct the nationwide search for the Center’s next general manager, it states.
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