by Mona Mahadevan The New Haven independent
IfeMichelle Gardin: “Even more remarkable is [McAllister’s] heart.”
Shamain “Sha” McAllister, a passionate advocate for inclusive art and cultural equity, has been tapped as the city’s next top arts and culture official.
That was announced on Tuesday morning during a press conference with Mayor Justin Elicker, Economic Development Administrator Mike Piscitelli, and dozens of arts and culture leaders in City Hall at 165 Church St.
McAllister’s first day on the job as the director of the city Department of Arts, Culture, and Tourism was Monday.
“New Haven is good soil,” said McAllister, filled with the “richness of the talent, creativity, and art in its people.” While she’s planning to spend time “listening” before choosing her priorities, more broadly, she said she’ll build on the work of her predecessor, Adriane Jefferson, who steered the city’s first cultural equity plan.
The one priority she’s already established, though, is getting the public and private sectors on the same page. She wants people to “know what’s going on with each other,” so that, for instance, restaurants can be prepared for arts events and tell customers about them.
McAllister, who moved to New Haven in 2014 to attend Albertus Magnus College, can boast a broad influence on New Haven’s art and culture scene.
She created the Student Justice League during her time at Albertus Magnus College, worked as the Development Coordinator for the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and contributed to the city’s Cultural Equity Plan and comprehensive plan. More recently, she’s spent her time as the Associate Director of Education & Community Impact at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, the Program Director of Kulturally LIT, and Vice President of the Arts Council of Greater New Haven Board.
If someone was to spend 48 hours in New Haven, on Tuesday, McAllister recommended stopping by Bloom, House of Naan, and Possible Futures. She also suggested a show at Toad’s Place or Shubert Theatre, as well as a drive down Grand Avenue.
“New Haven is more than pizza,” said McAllister. “We love the pizza,” but there are “bright lights” throughout the city’s arts, architecture, and culinary scenes.
“There’s no need to venture out of town to see a thought-provoking show, drive out of town to have a delicious meal, or hear your favorite musician,” she explained.
When it comes to the Trump administration’s cuts to diversity, equity, and inclusivity initiatives, she’s not that concerned. “I got crazy faith,” she told the Independent, reminding us that there’s “more of us than there are of them.”
Dozens of McAllister’s friends showed up at 165 Church St. to cheer and applaud McAllister’s appointment.
One of those friends, Angel Dahfay, described McAllister as nothing short of “amazing.” Dahfay, who serves as the manager of public program and activation for the New Haven Green, said she views McAllister as a “mentor,” even though they’re the same age.
From their experience working together, Dahfay saw McAllister prioritize “community.” As someone invested in the city’s arts scene, Dahfay is hoping to see more of that, particularly for Black and brown artists.
I’d like the department to “make sure opportunities are spread equally,” said Dahfay, especially when it comes to funding — something she views as “core” to truly supporting artists.
Hope Chávez, executive director of the Arts Council, gave McAllister a warm hug before delivering her remarks.
“This is what happens when we actually invest in young leaders,” said Chávez — especially, she continued, young women and people of color. One of the best ways to support their efforts, said Chávez, is by giving them the “prestige, relationships, and influence they need.”
Chávez also argued that art is the “engine” that drives social stability, economic development, and even new housing development. That’s because, she explained, “the arts tell us the truth.”
IfeMichelle Gardin, founder of Kulturally LIT and the Independent’s 2024 New Havener of the Year, teared up in her remarks about McAllister, a woman she described as “extraordinary.”
Donning novelist Toni Morrison earrings, she pulled from a Morrison quote — “Make a difference about something other than yourselves” — to describe McAllister’s community-oriented service. She said McAllister “shows us all what’s possible when we lead with love and focus.”
When it comes to what she’d like the department to do, Gardin described McAllister as a “very innovative thinker on her own.” After McAllister “poured so much into me” with her work at Kulturally LIT, said Gardin, the only thing advice she has for McAllister is just to remember that everyone is “standing at the ready” to support her, whatever she decides to do.
Dozens of city officials and arts leaders standing behind Sha McAllister — literally!
Mayor Justin Elicker: A big part of what makes New Haven the “cultural capital of Connecticut” is that “we consistently say that we are an inclusive and welcoming city.”