by Paul Bass The New Haven independent
Shamain “Sha” McAllister has a challenge for Connecticut’s most happening city.
“If we’re going to be the cultural capital,” she said, “the people need capital.”
In her new role as city’s governments arts czar, McAllister intends to help make sure they get it.
McAllister, who’s 29, is in her third week as the new director of arts, culture, and tourism. In a conversation Tuesday about her job, on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven,” she said she sees her role in part as bringing creative New Haveners together: Connecting people with artistic dreams with others who can help make them come true.
She observed that she’s stepping into the job at a time when cultural organizations face a double whammy: The evaporation of Covid-era special funding. And federal cutbacks.
The Arts Council of Greater New Haven (on whose board McAllister serves as vice-chair), for instance, recently announced that it is cutting full-time employees back to half time in order to keep them employed during tight budgetary times. (The group tapped into a state program that makes up some of the lost pay.)
As the communitiy enters the annual charitable-giving season, McAllister expressed confidence that New Haven will come through to help arts organizations stay strong.
“It’s a bit of a challenging time, but that’s OK,” she said. “We are resilient. I think we’ll show up as our best selves.”
Click on the video at the top of the story to watch the full conversation with new city Director of Arts, Culture and Tourism Shamian McAllister on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” program. Click here to subscribe or here to listen to other episodes of “Dateline New Haven.”