After a global executive search conducted by Searchlight Recruitment Inc., Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, is delighted to announce Jorn Weisbrodt as its new Artistic Director.
For the past five years Jorn Weisbrodt has served as Director of The Watermill Center and as Executive Director for RW Work Ltd. representing and managing the work of legendary visual artist, theatre and opera director Robert Wilson. Based in New York, Weisbrodt has an international profile of collaborating on landmark projects with some of the most prestigious arts organizations around the globe, including La Scala di Milano, the Spoleto Festival, the Barbican Centre in London, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Lincoln Centre Festival, and the Manchester
International Festival. Weisbrodt has also been instrumental in the highly anticipated remount of Einstein on the Beach which will receive its North American premiere at Luminato in June 2012. At The Watermill Center, Weisbrodt has been responsible for incubating cross-disciplinary performances and installations and launching an international artistic residency for emerging artists.
Prior to his work in the United States, Weisbrodt held numerous positions in Germany, including Artistic Production Director at Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Co-Founder of Zwischenpalastnutzung, and Assistant Director at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin, presenting new work from artists such as Pascal Dusapin, Herzog and de Meuron, Marina Abramovic, Antony Hegarty, Tony Oursler, Dan Graham, and Hans Werner Henze. An active leader within the contemporary arts scene, Jorn has served on the artistic advisory committees of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Trust, and the French American Cultural Exchange, among others.
“We received submissions from incredibly talented candidates, including a number of Canadians”, said Tony Gagliano, Chair of the Board for Luminato. “We were very impressed by Jorn’s vision for Luminato’s future and his dedication to making arts an essential part of the community here in Toronto.”
Peter Herrndorf, CEO of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, served on the Artistic Director Search Committee. “I was delighted to be a part of making the decision to hire an exciting young talent like Jorn Weisbrodt. I am confident that he will make a valuable contribution to Canada’s artistic landscape while using his international standing to champion our work on the world stage.”
Working with the CEO and programming team, the Artistic Director is responsible for setting Luminato’s artistic vision, including selecting local, national, and international commissioning projects, developing collaborations, and curating a diverse programmatic line-up of free and ticketed events across theatre, dance, music, literature, magic, film, food, fashion and art.
“Luminato has established itself as the most important North American Festival encompassing all the creative fields. I am thrilled to build on the work of my colleague Chris Lorway and continue to open the door further to bring Toronto to the world and the world to Toronto,” said Jorn Weisbrodt. “My partner and I are looking forward to making a home in Toronto, collaborating with the incredible artists and institutions that work here and becoming a part of the city and its cultural life.”
“Jorn has been an invaluable partner and collaborator over the past thirteen years. Attracting Jorn to Luminato is a coup for Toronto”, added Joe Melillo, Executive Producer of BAM, on news of the appointment. Glenn Lowry, Director of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City and former Director of the Art Gallery of Ontario, commented of the appointment, “Jorn Weisbrodt is exceptionally talented and creative and will bring an enormous amount of experience and energy to Toronto. He has the vision and the drive to ensure that Luminato continues to grow and thrive in new and exciting ways.”
“We’re confident Jorn will provide a dynamic vision while continuing to develop the ambitious marquee projects from Canadian and international artists for which Luminato has become known”, said Janice Price, CEO of Luminato. “We’re looking forward to begin working together and shaping what I’m sure will be an exciting Festival in 2012 and beyond.”
Jorn Weisbrodt will take up his duties in Toronto in January, 2012.
The sixth edition of Luminato takes place from June 8-17, 2012.
ABOUT LUMINATO
For 10 extraordinary days in June, Toronto’s stages, streets, and public spaces are illuminated with arts and creativity. Luminato is an annual multi-disciplinary celebration of theatre, dance, music, literature, food, visual arts, fashion, film, and more. For details, please visit luminato.com.
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