Victoria Theatre Association names new leader

Martha Shaker, chair of Victoria Theatre Association’s Board of Trustees, announces the selection of VTA’s new President & CEO, Ty Sutton, who replaces retiring President & CEO Ken Neufeld. Sutton joins VTA after three years as the Inaugural Executive Director of the Butler Arts Center at Butler University. He brings more than 20 years of arts venue management experience, as well as extensive fundraising, marketing and programming knowl- edge to VTA. Sutton starts his new position Aug. 13.

“My philosophy has always been that the arts bring peo- ple together,” said Sutton. “I am very impressed with the level of commitment and financial support the Dayton community has given the Dayton arts scene, espe- cia llyinembrac ing Victoria Theatre Association’s worldclass facilities and arts programming. With the addition of t henewArtsAnnex, I believe our venues can accommodate any type of performance and allow us to grow the diversity of our shows while broadening our audiences. I am eager to lead an organization with such an outstanding rec ord of success. Continuing to grow our offerings and making a positive impact on people’s lives will be at the top of my priority list. Dayton will be a great place for my family to call home.”

Sutton was chosen after a six-month international search, conducted by leading arts executive recruiting firm Management Consultants for the Arts. VTA Board of Trustees Vice- Chair Chris Wyse served as the chair of the six-member Search Committee. Sutton has more than 20 years of arts administration and management experience, including three years at the Butler Arts Center at Butler Univer sity in Indiana. Sutton was previously the general manager of the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center in Midland, Texas, as well as general manager of The Lincoln Center in Fort Collins, Colo. He has held several arts administration positions, including Programming Director at the University of Utah and Audi- ence Services Manager at Arts the Lesher in Walnut Center Creek, for Calif. the

A native of Danville, Calif., in the San Francisco Bay area, Sutton earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Utah and is a graduate of the International Association of Venue Manager’s Venue Management School. He and his wife, Polly Creer Sutton, a retired professional bal- lerina, have two children.