As Deputy Director, Leila Fitzpatrick oversees the Cultural Development Corporation’s internal operations and communications, institutional development and financial management. Since joining CuDC as its second staff member in June 2000, Leila has been integral in building the organization and growing its staff, as well as shaping and managing CuDC’s programs. A key participant in CuDC’s strategic planning process over the past year, Leila is now working closely with the board and staff to implement objectives determined by the plan, which guides the organization’s operations according to its mission and core values.

All of CuDC’s programs and activities benefit from the varied and hands-on role that Leila plays. She has managed and coordinated fundraising pursuits from donor cultivation to grantwriting and reporting and works closely with the Development Director on fundraising strategies and activities from artist housing grant proposals to planning for the organization’s annual gala. Leila has also managed promotional programs such as 3rd Thursday events in the 7th Street Arts District, Art in Vacant Windows and Art-O-Matic. She developed CuDC’s website—www.culturaldc.org—
to complement and promote the organization’s programs and events and enhance delivery of technical assistance and continues to manage the ongoing refinement of the site’s architecture and graphic design. She managed the integration of new technologies to improve the CuDC's effectiveness with a grant from the New York Foundation for the Arts. Leila oversees all of the organization’s digital media, including Flashpoint’s website—www.flashpointdc.org—and two e-newsletters, CulturalDC and DCArtists. In addition, every piece of CuDC’s collateral is shaped and enhanced by Leila’s editorial and creative talents; she also lends this expertise to Flashpoint’s resident organizations and gallery exhibitors.

Leila was also an integral part of all aspects of Flashpoint’s planning and creation – from outlining the multi-tenant concept to branding and design to planning for and managing daily operations. She was responsible for spurring the expanded program of technical assistance services in Flashpoint’s Business Center and was the catalyst for developing the project’s business plan. Leila continues to direct the Business Center and the Gallery program at Flashpoint.

Leila’s background working in arts organizations and examining the arts in social and historical frameworks provides her with an important context in which to position the arts as a tool for economic and community development. Leila came to the Cultural Development Corporation from the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, where she managed object databases, including cataloguing objects for the Time cover collection; handled public inquiries relating to the painting and sculpture collections; and edited manuscripts, catalogues, brochures and other exhibition materials.

Leila graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bowdoin College with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Russian.