Office Phone: 410-230-0200
General E-mail: [email protected]
STAFF:
Jeannie L. Howe, Executive Director - [email protected]
Jeannie L. Howe is the Executive Director of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance (GBCA), a regional, membership organization that was organized by artists and cultural organizations to unify, nurture and promote the cultural sector in Baltimore and its five surrounding counties. Under her leadership, since January 2012 GBCA has transformed and expanded its services to the cultural community, including: new professional development initiatives for artists and emerging arts management leaders of color; re-launched audience development strategies; supported artists with awards and grants; and advocated for the health, visibility, and financial strength of the sector. Membership during this time has increased from 80 to nearly 500 artists and organizations.
Prior to joining GBCA, Howe was founder and president of BayCliff Associates, and provided management and fundraising consultation for nonprofit clients, including Everyman Theatre in Baltimore for whom she led a successful $17.7 million capital campaign. Her career has included leadership positions with a range of nonprofit organizations including the Alley Theatre, Baltimore Reads, and The Marrow Foundation (now Be the Match Foundation). Howe has held many volunteer positions including her current service on the Baltimore Orchard Project and Callaway Garrison Improvement Association Boards of Directors. Howe received a M.A. in Theatre from Miami University of Ohio and a B.A. in Theatre from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. In 2014, the Daily Record recognized her as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women.
Alix Fenhagen, Baker Artist Portfolios Manager - [email protected]
With a background in arts management, marketing, development, and theatre practice, Alix has consciously combined her passion and creative thinking as an artist with a strategic and collaborative approach to promoting and sustaining artistic endeavors. Alix has worked as a digital marketing and PR strategist and consultant in the arts, helping artists and organizations promote their work to reach and grow audiences. In addition to her work as an arts administrator, Alix is a multifaceted theatre artist, who has had the privilege to work with many of Baltimore’s wonderful theatre companies and artists. Alix believes that arts and culture are deeply woven into the fabric of any community and that artists are integral to continually shaping and enhancing the creative landscape of Baltimore. She holds an M.A.A.A from Goucher College where she wrote extensively about how active artistic practice enhances adaptive leadership on both a psychological and neurological level. She also holds a B.S. in Theatre from Northwestern University.
Rhea Beckett, External Communications Associate - [email protected]
Rhea Beckett is an artist, independent curator, and founder of Black Artist Research Space, a platform dedicated to fostering collaboration among artists and exploring the intersections of creative practice and historical resistance. A graduate of Fisk University, where she performed as a soprano with the renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers, Beckett honed her passion for cultural preservation through on-stage performances with the ensemble and fellowships in paper conservation and archival research through The Carl Van Vechten Gallery and John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library.
Beckett has held roles with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, where she co-organized community-focused events, and the Howard University Gallery of Art, where she managed a permanent collection of over 10,000 artworks and cultural objects. She has also served as a Grants and Legislative Affairs Specialist with the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Rhea Beckett earned her MFA in Curatorial Practice from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in 2016 and joined the faculty in 2022. Rhea is also a professor of African American Art history at Trinity Washington University and enjoys creating music in her free time.
Shaquille Stewart, Marketing and Development Assistant - [email protected]
Shaquille is a dedicated theatre professional and arts administrator with over a decade of experience in performance, directing, and education. He has worked with numerous theatre organizations across the DMV and on tour, bringing a strategic and community-focused approach to audiences nationwide. As the former Executive Director of Silver Spring Stage, he led the organization through reconstruction, securing operational grant funding from the Foundation for Stage Managers (FSM), the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), and the Nora Roberts Foundation. His appointment was featured on the cover of Montgomery Magazine.
Beyond theatre, Shaquille has experience in consignment, e-commerce, and electronics, having served as a lead pricing analyst for BuySpry LLC, where he helped drive multimillion-dollar sales. His passion lies in strengthening funding and sustainability for arts organizations, ensuring they remain vital pillars of their communities. With a commitment to strategic planning and advocacy, he continues to champion the role of the arts in fostering connection and innovation.
