When Kevin Giglinto learned in late 2022 that the Marcus Performing Arts Center was looking for a president and chief executive officer to replace outgoing CEO Kendra Whitlock Ingram, the Marquette University alum threw his hat into the ring early. With 25 years of experience leading arts organizations, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., Giglinto reached out to a search firm he thought might be tasked with looking for a successor. The following spring, he was selected from a pool of 60 applicants to lead downtown Milwaukee’s longtime performing arts venue. In a recent interview with BizTimes reporter Cara Spoto, Giglinto talked about his affinity for Milwaukee and his desire to make the Marcus Center a cultural gathering place for all residents.
Beyond the stage
“The strategic plan I oversaw at the Kennedy Center is almost exactly the same as the newly completed strategic plan here at the Marcus Center. That plan is aimed at defining what the organization’s role is in the community and having an impact that goes beyond just what happens on the stage. It’s about really engaging and connecting with young people, creating educational opportunities for kids to get exposure to the arts, and creating a cultural gathering place where people can come and enjoy the space without buying a ticket. You create a campus that’s inviting, that has meaningful experiences celebrating the role of culture in the city.”
Building relationships, elevating experiences
“I want us to always be elevating artists and artistic experiences. It’s a very people-oriented business. You have artists who create things, and you’re bringing audiences in to connect to those experiences. And there’s a lot of people behind the scenes who make it all happen. It’s not a transaction. It’s a relationship that you have with an audience member because it’s a meaningful experience to them. At the heart of it all, it is how you relate to the people who have taken time and money to come and experience something that you’re delivering. So, you need to make sure that you give them the best experience possible.”
Back in the Brew City
“This is my first CEO role and I’m delighted to have it, but it’s really my affinity and affection for Milwaukee that excites me. I love the city. I love the region. I spent a lot of time here, not only at Marquette. For the last 35 years, Milwaukee has been like a second home. I’ve seen it change and evolve, and there’s so much development and so much that’s positive. Milwaukee is at the center of the American conversation, including who we are as a culture. And I think that gives us a chance to have our values represented.”
