EarRelevant Staff | 8 DEC 2025
ATLANTA, Georgia— South Arts has named former Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman as its next president and CEO, the Atlanta-based regional arts organization announced Thursday. He will step into the role on January 20, 2026, succeeding interim president and board chair Gretchen Wollert McLennon.
Shipman, who has held leadership positions across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, joins South Arts with a background in strategy, operations, and arts administration. He said the organization’s momentum and mission drew him to the role.
“I’m thrilled to join South Arts at a time of tremendous change and opportunity,” Shipman said in a statement. “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.”
Shipman served as Atlanta’s City Council president beginning in 2021, during which time he championed initiatives in transportation, economic development, ethics, and budgeting. Before that, he was CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center—the nation’s third-largest arts center—overseeing more than 1,000 employees, refinancing major bonds, and securing roughly $10 million annually in capital and fundraising support. He has also worked as a consultant to startups and long-established institutions in the U.S. and abroad, while remaining active on nonprofit boards.
McLennon said Shipman’s experience positions him well to lead the regional organization, which approaches its 50th anniversary next year.
“Doug is someone who keenly understands the vital intersection of civic life and the arts,” she said. “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.”
Founded in 1975, South Arts supports artists and arts organizations across nine Southern states through grants, fellowships, and cultural programs. The group says the upcoming anniversary year will highlight its long-standing efforts to strengthen the region’s artistic landscape while expanding opportunities for artists and communities.
More information on programs and upcoming initiatives is available on the South Arts website: southarts.org. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- South Arts: southarts.org
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