The Jazz Institute of Chicago is pleased to announce the hiring of their first ever Development and Marketing Director, Virginia Nugent. The not-for-profit Jazz Institute of Chicago recently marked its 40th year of preserving and perpetuating jazz in all its forms, and this hiring will expand its full time staff to four.

I am thrilled that Virginia is joining the team. She brings new insights and perspectives from her experiences outside of Chicago and we are excited about activating her ideas.

This position is a vital element in the ongoing ability of the organization to serve the community, and is focused on organizational capacity building through membership growth, building an individual donor program, and reaching out to national resources.
Lauren Deutsch

A native of Australia, Virginia has lived in the US since 1999, and her career spans over 20 years of arts management. Most recently, Virginia served as Development Director for Minnesota Dance Theatre & the Dance Institute, and has also held positions of Managing Director at History Theatre in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Director of Production at Pittsburgh Opera.

Virginia's industry involvement includes

• being on the inaugural steering committee for the Ivey Awards (Twin Cities' annual theatre awards);
• representing the Twin Cities in the Performing Arts Research Coalition;
• chairing the committee that studied the feasibility of adding an Office of Cultural Affairs to the City of St Paul; 
• chairing the marketing committee for Minneapolis Mosaic, a summer-long multicultural arts festival; 
• membership of the committee building a cooperative marketing program among arts and culture organizations in St Paul;
• member of the Board of Rotary Club #10.
  

I am excited to bring my experience in capacity-building to such a worthwhile organization, says Virginia. Music has been a large part of my personal and professional life and I'm delighted to align my passion for the arts with the Jazz Institute of Chicago's readiness for the next level. I look forward to working closely with Executive Director, Lauren Deutsch and Board President Joe Glossberg in developing a plan for the Jazz Institute of Chicago that ensures our ability to continue to educate, present and preserve the dynamism and relevance of jazz music for future generations. - Virginia Nugent

For further information, contact:      

Lauren Deutsch, Executive Director
lauren@jazzinchicago.org
312-427-1676 x 5

Virginia Nugent, Development and Marketing Director
virginia@jazzinchicago.org
312-427-1676 x 3