About Us
Robin C. Gillette
Robin Gillette has been working in the nonprofit arts world since 1990, ever since she graduated from Carleton College with a psychology degree that’s been surprisingly useful. What started as a career in stage management in Minneapolis and New York evolved into work as an off-Broadway general manager, a production coordinator for the Lincoln Center Festival, and Associate Producer of Contemporary Programming at Lincoln Center. She returned to Minneapolis in late 2001 where she continues to make her home and career. From 2006-2013, she served as executive director of Minnesota Fringe Festival, the Midwest’s largest uncurated performance festival. She founded Arts Progress in 2013 and has been helping arts organizations and individual artists more efficiently fulfill their mission ever since.
Jeff D. Larson
Jeff Larson has been working in Twin Cities theater since 1993, in roles including directing, lighting design, production management, consulting and administrative leadership. He’s a graduate of the Carlson School of Management, the U of MN Theater Department, and the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab. Before joining Arts Progress in 2016, he spent 16 years at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, including 3 years as Executive Director. His recent projects for Arts Progress include leadership transition support for Young Artists Initiative and One Voice Mixed Chorus, and interim leadership of Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. Most recently, Jeff served as the Executive & Artistic Director of the Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing, MN.