Arts Alive!: Elizabeth Gelman, Creative Pinellas

Elizabeth Gelman is what’s known in the arts universe as a multiple hyphenate.

Today’s guest on the Arts Alive! podcast is Senior Director of Arts and Cultural Programming at Creative Pinellas, the umbrella organization that supports and promotes local artists through a series of grant awards, public exhibitions and events. Come the 4^th of May, Creative Pinellas will unveil a multi-disciplinary exhibit of works by its 10 “Emerging Artists” for 2023.

Curated by Elizabeth Gelman, who shares the backstage history of this program, including descriptions of the big 10, what they do, and why their work – and the work of Creative Pinellas itself – is so important.

Before joining Creative Pinellas, Gelman spent eight years as the executive director of the Florida Holocaust Museum.

She is a cantorial soloist for Temple B’nai Israel in Largo, and has been a member of Actor’s Equity for some time, and in fact is playing American activist Emma Goldman in the current American Stage production of the Tony-winning musical Ragtime.

Hence, a multi-hyphenate.

Talking about Ragtime, Gelman says: “These deep societal issues are integrated throughout the show, but what I want to say about the show is that it is gorgeous. The score is so captivating and amazing. There’s still singing and dancing, there are light moments and there’s moments of comedy. And Terrence McNally’s writing is so brilliant. It will take you on a ride.”

She also has high praise for her castmates. “It is truly a privilege to be standing on the stage with all of these people.”

Click the arrow below to listen to the interview.