Today, South Arts is pleased to announce the appointment of Doug Shipman as the regional arts organization’s next President and CEO. Shipman will officially assume the position on January 20, 2026.
“I’m thrilled to join South Arts at a time of tremendous change and opportunity,” says Doug Shipman. “The recent growth and incredible legacy of South Arts provides the platform for helping guide the Southern region and entire arts community in finding new and innovative ways to sustain and grow artists and arts organizations. The arts have never been more vital and I look forward to leading the incredible South Arts team in forging a bold future.”
Leading the regional arts organization, Shipman brings a distinctive career as a strategy and operations consultant, with C-suite leadership across the private, nonprofit, and public sectors. He has guided both startups and established institutions through pivotal transitions, served clients in the U.S. and abroad, and remained actively engaged on nonprofit boards and as an advisor to emerging ventures.
In 2021, Shipman was elected Atlanta’s City Council President, where his collaborative leadership advanced priorities in transportation, economic development, ethics, and budgeting. Prior to that, he spent three years as CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center, the nation’s third-largest arts center, leading a workforce of more than 1,000 employees, refinancing multiple bonds, and securing approximately $10 million in annual capital and fundraising support.
“Having long-served in executive leadership in the non-profit and cultural sectors, Doug is someone who keenly understands the vital intersection of civic life and the arts,” said Gretchen Wollert McLennon, South Arts Board Chair and Interim President and CEO. “His expertise in fundraising and strength in authentic relationship building assures us that he is the ideal candidate to lead South Arts into the future.”
With new leadership guiding South Arts into its 50th anniversary year, the organization’s mission to celebrate and support the region’s cultural heritage and artistic vitality through grants, fellowships, and capacity-building programs is more important than ever. Shipman’s career-long dedication to supporting and shaping cultural and civic institutions makes him uniquely positioned to lead South Arts into an exciting new era of growth and impact while building on this legacy of advancing opportunities to strengthen the arts across the region for years to come.
For more information on the organization’s upcoming programming, 50th anniversary, or announcements, please visit South Arts website.
