CI to Eye with Monica Holt Tom Gabbard on Cultivating Creative Cities and Building Space for Innovation
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Oct 9, 2025 Tom Gabbard, a longtime arts leader and CEO of Blumenthal Performing Arts in Charlotte, NC, discusses the transformative impact of performing arts centers on city identity. He shares insights on balancing commercial success with community needs through innovative programs like Bloom Studios, an arts R&D lab. Tom highlights the importance of local artists in commercial shows and how immersive experiences can deepen audience engagement. He emphasizes curiosity and collaboration as keys to shaping vibrant cultural landscapes.
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Transforming Charlotte's Cultural Identity
- Tom arrived to a Charlotte that lacked evening life and was focused on finance rather than creativity.
- He intentionally expanded Blumenthal beyond traditional stages to help add a creative edge to the city.
Invest To Build Touring Markets
- Invest in productions and collaborate with other presenters to underwrite new shows and create touring pathways.
- Mobilize both financial and emotional investment to make fragile productions viable for tours.
Bringing Breaking Convention To Charlotte
- Tom invited Sadler's Wells' artistic director to assess whether Charlotte had the DNA for an international hip hop festival.
- That partnership led to a Breaking Convention festival that connected global acts with local hip hop artists and graffiti inside Blumenthal.