Collins, Hine and Gularte convene ‘Inside the Corner Office’

The Leadership St. Pete Alumni Association’s fifth annual Inside the Corner Office, a conversation-based community event, was held virtually Wednesday, through a media partnership with the St. Pete Catalyst.

Moderator John Collins, executive director of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, spoke with two leaders in the arts community: Stephanie Gularte, CEO and producing artistic director of American Stage, and Salvador Dali Museum executive director Hank Hine.

“The future is exciting … and a little unnerving,” said Gularte, who recently announced a part virtual, part live 2020-21 season for American Stage.

“Our response (to the widespread pandemic closures) has been to really examine the core of our value to the community, our core purpose. How we may serve the community now, at this moment, and effectively establish new platforms for reaching our community, and still using the experience of storytelling and arts education in bringing the community together?”

Said Hine: “I think the future looks bright for all the arts in our community. The current situation is not so bright, and like American Stage we’ve been challenged to find ways that we could bring what we want to bring to our public in a digital, online format.

“The problem is how to monetize that, because all of our business models had to do with people being willing to buy a ticket, or some kind of subscription.”

Near the end of the hour-long conversation, the directors took questions from viewers, including “How is your organization preparing for the return of people to your spaces?” and “How to you see the arts helping people heal as we move forward?”

Inside the Corner Office continues Oct. 20 with artist D. YaeL Kelley and Fairgrounds executive director Liz Dimmitt.

Stephanie Gularte on The Catalyst Sessions.

Hank Hine on The Catalyst Sessions.