Lionell Thomas

Lionell Thomas lecturing on "The Potential for American Art & Culture in Transcending Cultural Barriers" at the International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy in the USA "US Cultural Diplomacy in Practice: Building Cultural Bridges to Strengthen the Relationships between America and the Global Community" (Washington D.C., June 23th - 24th; Baltimore, June 25th; & New York City, June 26th - 27th, 2014)

Lionell Thomas serves as the Director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

Biography

Lionell Thomas returned to the District of Columbia Government in October 2011 after serving as the Executive Director of the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council for two and half years. He was previously with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities for over 22½ years, where he served in numerous capacities throughout the agency; eventually serving as the Deputy Director and Interim Executive Director. Over the years, Mr. Thomas has been cited as a dynamic and steady arts administrator.

Mr. Thomas earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Lewis University and a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Thomas is a native Washingtonian and has received various accolades for his creative approaches to arts management and programming. Mr. Thomas’ most recent accomplishments include oversight of the first of its kind dedicated tax revenue stream that will yield more than $20 million annually beginning in 2015, as well as a secured long-term sustainable business plan for the Lincoln Theatre. He has also served on a number of state grants panels as a reviewer and site evaluator. Mr. Thomas currently serves on several boards including of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington and others.

Of all his accomplishments to date, Mr. Thomas is proudest of the initiatives developed to bring arts programs to underserved communities—several of which remain staples of the District of Columbia’s arts community today, inclusive of the Upstart Capacity-Building Program, and the East of the River Arts Initiative.

Further Information

"The Potential for American Art & Culture in Transcending Cultural Barriers"A Lecture by Lionell Thomas, Director, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities

External Links

Biographical Note at the Website of the District of Columbia