Elise Bernhardt

I am an entrepreneur and an expert in problem solving and I have headed a number of  institutions and organisations. For over 30 years of my professional career, I have worked primarily with not-for-profit organisations at various stages of development, from start-up to wind-down. I have expertise in programme development, community engagement, holistic budgeting and strategic planning. I have served as Executive Director of the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, a choral group that provides opportunities for young people to train and perform at the highest level. Before that, I was the CEO and President of the Foundation for Jewish Culture from 2006 to 2014, when it closed. I was also Executive Director of The Kitchen, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing a space for contemporary artists to meet and explore new ideas together. Between 1983 and 1998 I founded and directed Dancing in the Streets, an organisation that produced free public dance performances. As a consultant I utilise and shares my professional experiences, providing critical feedback to art and performing arts professionals and students.