The Cedar Cultural Center’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Michelle Woster will become the organization’s Executive Director effective July 15, 2022. Woster has been serving as Interim Executive Director of The Cedar since February 2022.
“We are thrilled to welcome Michelle as our next Executive Director,” said Board President Brent Hickman. “She brings considerable skills and deep experience that will benefit this organization tremendously.”
Woster has a long history of organizational and development leadership in the Twin Cities' non-profit sector, having served as Managing Director for two Minneapolis performing arts organizations: Theater Latté Da and Ten Thousand Things Theatre. She has also held lead development positions at The Center for Victims of Torture and The Family Partnership. She currently serves on the board of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District, one square mile where more than 1,200 artists live and work.
“It’s an honor to steward The Cedar, a singular organization that connects audiences with global musicians and emerging local artists,” said Woster. “Under David Hamilton’s leadership, The Cedar strategically weathered an 18-month COVID-19 shutdown. I look forward to working with The Cedar’s many stakeholders to ensure the continued health and vibrancy of this iconic Twin Cities venue. I’m especially thrilled about joining the West Bank community and am eager to help amplify its thriving business district.”
Woster taking on the position of Executive Director is the newest addition to The Cedar’s growing team. In March 2022 The Cedar welcomed Booking Director Mary Brabec, who has almost three decades of experience in presenting and representing artists. She started her career producing shows and festivals with the only independent promoter in Montana. She then served as world/jazz music director at Seattle’s KBCS, booked and coordinated artists at Bumbershoot and the WOMAD USA festivals, and opened her own agency, Mighty Bison Booking, which eventually merged with the Billions Corp. She returned to Minnesota in 2017 to work at The Dakota until the venue’s temporary closure in March 2020 due to COVID-19.
“We believe that the combination of Michelle's deep experience and proven leadership within the non-profits arts communities along with Mary's decades-long career in the music industry is an extremely powerful one,” said Hickman.
Robert Lehmann, formerly in the role of Booking and Artistic Manager, is looking forward to his new position as The Cedar’s Community and Grant-Funded Programs Manager. Lehmann has been with The Cedar since September 2018.