Meet the Esteemed Jury for the Pitch Project Session at Sibiu International Performing Arts Market
In anticipation of the highly anticipated Pitch Project Session at the Sibiu International Performing Arts Market, we have unveiled a distinguished panel of jurors. These professionals from across the global performing arts landscape are set to provide invaluable insights and guidance to the participants that will have the chance to showcase their creative visions.
Lisa Richards Toney became President and CEO of APAP on July 1, 2020. Ms. Richards Toney brings more than 20 years of experience leading a range of small and large arts and humanities organizations, managing change, and building stability. In September 2023, Ms. Richards Toney was named among industry luminaries to the first NYC Live Entertainment Industry Council by New York Mayor Eric Adams. She was also named one of "The Next 50" as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Low Kee Hong is Creative Director at Factory International. He oversees the Curatorial team at Factory International and alongside John McGrath, the organisation’s Artistic Director & Chief Executive, works to develop the artistic programme for Factory International and Manchester International Festival and will lead on the Festival’s programme from 2025 onwards. Kee Hong also oversees the work of the Public Engagement programme which brings opportunities for people from all backgrounds, ages and from all corners of the city year-round; the International Department collaborating with venues, festivals and other cultural organisations globally and ensures that work made in Manchester goes on to be seen around the world.
Shona McCarthy is the Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. She has championed the Edinburgh Fringe as one of the world’s leading performing arts festival and expo, founded on the principles of open access and freedom of expression. She was Chief Executive of the Culture Company, leading on Derry - Londonderry’s transformational year as UK City of Culture. She was Director of the British Council Northern Ireland. She headed up Imagine Belfast to deliver Belfast’s bid to be European Capital of Culture. Shona has over 30 years’ experience working in senior leadership positions.
Harold David, with a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Performing Arts, he worked for 10 years for the Maison des écrivains et de la littérature as a program manager for school and university writers, from 1997 to 2007. He then took over the direction of the Théâtre de Die (Drôme) from 2008, stage conventioned Art en Territoire in 2014. Finally, from 2018, he led the association Prix du Jeune Ecrivain (Haute-Garonne) until 2022. At the same time, he developed an activity as an independent show entrepreneur (production, distribution and exhibition of theatres in Avignon, where he co-directed the Rouge Gorge, the Archipelago and the Atypik Theatre, permanent theatres all year round). Since 2022, he is co-chair of AF&C, the organization that coordinates the Festival Off d'Avignon.
Anthony Sargent CBE studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford university, then worked for 15 years in BBC Radio and TV (in presentation, production and management); at London’s Southbank Centre as Artistic Projects Director; at Birmingham City Council as Head of Arts; as External Partnerships Manager for the BBC’s nationwide multi-platform Millennium Music Live; as founding General Director at Sage Gateshead (now The Glasshouse); as elected chair of the International Society for the Performing Arts; as CEO of Luminato Festival Toronto and most recently as Interim Director of Toronto’s Koffler Centre of the Arts. He has written two major international studies of global lessons for the cultural sector from the Covid pandemic in 2021 and 2022
Vicențiu Rahău is Programme & Coordinator – Indoor Events of Sibiu International Theatre Festival, since 2012, Artistic Consultant of “Radu Stanca'' National Theatre, since 2015, and Coordinator of the “Radu Stanca” National Theatre’s digital platform, www.scena-digitala.ro, since 2022. He finished philosophy studies at the Istituto Aloisianum Padova (2005) and Theater Studies at the University of Lyon 2 (2011). Holder of a PhD in Theatre and Performing Arts, since 2018, Models in Cultural Management, Individual Training and Community Development: Sibiu International Theatre Festival, he teaches at the “Lucian Blaga'' University-Sibiu, Department of Drama and Theatre Studies.
With their collective wisdom and discernment, the jury is poised to guide participants through the Pitch Project Session, identifying standout projects that embody innovation and creativity and offering constructive feedback.
As the Sibiu International Performing Arts Market approaches, excitement mounts for the opportunity to witness these collaborative efforts and celebrate the rich universe of the global performing arts community.
