Key Southern Theater staffer quits

Posted at 12:08 PM on May 25, 2011 by Marianne Combs (0 Comments)
Filed under: Funding

It's the latest bad news for an organization that is flailing; Kate Nordstrom, who was both the Southern Theater's External Relations Director and its Music Curator, has quit.

In an e-mail sent out today she writes:

Dear friends & colleagues,

After great and of course very difficult deliberation, I've made the decision to leave the Southern Theater after more than 5 years of truly rewarding work. I am especially proud of the new music program that was created less than 3 years ago, which is now so vital to the Twin Cities' music & performance scene, evidence of an underrepresented programmatic niche that I -- more than ever -- believe needs to be cultivated & nurtured. This is the work I'm going to continue to do independently and within organizations & structures that, at this time, can support artists & new projects most effectively.

To the amazing artists I've worked with closely at the Southern: Thank you for sharing your talents, creative aspirations, and performance visions with me. I am confident that my move will ultimately serve to support your work more fully.

To Southern patrons & supporters, staff (past and present), partners, co-presenters, sponsors, members of the press, and to my performing art presenter colleagues: I get very emotional thinking about all the ways in which each of you have supported, encouraged and championed the very important programming -- specifically new work, new series & festival concepts, and long-lead projects by independent artists -- that's happened on the Southern stage these past 5 years but also long before my time at the theater. Being a part of this programmatic mission has shaped me in substantial ways, and will very much remain my active focus.

With gratitude & great optimism --
Kate

Management for the Southern Theater has been mainly quiet since it announced it was laying off five staff, and cutting hours for the remaining employees. The venue has cancelled much of its programming, and is now only showing previously scheduled performances by local artists.

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories