Blumenthal Arts CEO Tom Gabbard Announces Plan To Retire

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After more than 20 years of transformative leadership of Blumenthal Arts, President and CEO Tom Gabbard has shared his plans to retire from the innovative organization by the end of 2027.

 

Gabbard’s version of retirement will look different than most: He plans to focus on advising and consulting for Blumenthal Arts and arts organizations around the world after ensuring a seamless transition for the creative and economic powerhouse he’s built into an industry leader.

 

 

“Vickie and I are staying in Charlotte as we aim for our own new chapter of active retirement,” Gabbard said. “I’m blessed with great health and abundant creative energy. I look forward to continuing as I’ve done my entire career to advise and support creative entrepreneurs.”

 

He will work with the Blumenthal Arts Board of Directors on a comprehensive leadership transition to ensure continuity, stability and the organization’s continued momentum.

 

“Tom’s vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the arts have shaped Blumenthal Arts into one of the premier performing arts organizations in the nation,” said David Head, Chair of the Blumenthal Arts Board of Directors. “We are deeply grateful for everything Tom has built and are committed to conducting a thoughtful, inclusive search that honors his legacy and positions Blumenthal Arts for its next exciting chapter. Tom will be an invaluable partner as we chart the path forward.”

 

Guided by the belief in the power of the arts to improve lives and create stronger communities, Gabbard’s nearly 50-year professional career has been an unyielding service to innovation and access to the arts. He’s been a catalyst and builder from the start.

 

He began his career in 1978 at the Malibu campus of Pepperdine University, where he founded the Center for the Arts. He left a trail of success and innovation across the country as he headed toward Charlotte: In Denver, he oversaw the renovation and expansion of the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities. In Green Bay, he brought first-class touring Broadway to Northeast Wisconsin for the first time. As a co-producer of the Broadway musical Thoroughly Modern Millie, he secured rights to mount and launch the show’s national tour in Green Bay.

 

Since 2003, Blumenthal Arts under Gabbard’s creative leadership has grown and evolved in significant ways to support the needs of a vibrant, dynamic city. Major initiatives include:

 

• The launch of large-scale annual community events, including The Charlotte Jazz Festival, The Charlotte International Arts Festival and the relaunch of Charlotte Shout, and bringing from London for three years the international hip hop festival Breakin’ Convention.
• Opening new venues like the Knight Theater, Stage Door Theater and Blume Studios.
• The launch of The Blumey Awards in 2013, to ensure that Charlotte students could qualify for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA). The program was integral in the success of professional performers such as Eva Noblezada, Reneé Rapp and Bryson Battle, who is in the Broadway cast of Cats: The Jellicle Ball. The Blumey Awards became a template, with 58 similar programs across the country. Gabbard also served as chair of the NHSMTA for 10 years.
• The launch of immersive experiences in Charlotte during Covid. Immersive Van Gogh from Europe attracted more than 300,000 attendees in six months and brought 200-plus Blumenthal staff safely back to work. Gabbard saw opportunity, and launched Blume Studios, dedicated to non-traditional experiences. Charlotte now is a globally-recognized leader in the field and a premiere destination for international shows to launch in North America.

Gabbard’s influence extends far beyond Charlotte city limits. He’s been a member of The Broadway League since 1996, now with Lifetime status. He has been a Tony Awards voter since 1997 and was granted lifetime voting privileges in 2022. In 2012, The Broadway League honored him with the Samuel J. L’Hommedieu Award for Outstanding Achievement in Presenter Management.

 

He was a founding member of the Independent Presenters Network (IPN), an association of more than 30 leading presenters of touring Broadway in North America and the UK. He was integral in organizing financial investment in more than 200 productions for Broadway national tours, and London West End. In 2012 he organized the inaugural networking conference in London between producers/presenters in the US and UK that continues bi-annually.

 

“I was the lucky inheritor of a strong institution from my predecessor, Judith Allen, who led Blumenthal Arts for its first decade,” Gabbard said. “Now it’s time for the next chapter of growth and creativity guided by a new leader.”

 

FOR IMAGES OR INTERVIEW REQUESTS, CONTACT RACHEL SUTHERLAND: 704-287-8642; rachel@rachelsutherland.net

ABOUT BLUMENTHAL ARTS
Located in the heart of uptown Charlotte, Blumenthal Arts is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit performing arts organizations, dedicated to enriching lives and building community through the power of the arts. Since opening in 1992, Blumenthal has presented the Carolinas’ largest Broadway season alongside concerts, comedy, dance, and immersive experiences across its four theaters (Belk Theater, Booth Playhouse, Stage Door Theater and Knight Theater). The organization engages more than 150,000 students each year through education and access programs, such as The Blumey Awards. It supports local and emerging artists and invests in the development of new works, earning 13 Tony Awards for its co-productions. Hosting more than 1,000 events annually and welcoming millions of guests since its founding, Blumenthal Arts continues to shape Charlotte’s cultural landscape and strengthen the region’s creative economy. For more information, visit blumenthalarts.org.