"Action Research" — Rather than studying what has been, action research explores ways to ignite change and evolution.

Nello McDaniel, Principal Director, supervises all ARTS Action Research project activity and publication development from AAR’s office in Brooklyn, NY. Prior to ARTS Action Research, Nello was Executive Director of the Foundation for the Extension and Development of the American Professional Theatre, an arts consulting company based in New York. From 1978 to 1982, he managed the Presentation and Touring Programs for the National Endowment for the Arts Dance Program. Prior to that, he was Chief Operating Officer and Performing Arts Director for the Western States Arts Foundation. In 1993, he was named Fulbright International Fellow to consult with the New Zealand Arts Council and numerous New Zealand arts organizations.

Nancy Quinn Fund workshop at
Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York
photo by Zach Hollwedel

George Thorn, Director, directs west coast projects from his base in Portland, Oregon. For eighteen years he directed the arts administration graduate program at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia. Prior to this, he was Executive Vice-President of the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center. George spent sixteen years in New York City as a general manager of Broadway, Off-Broadway and touring companies. George is a recipient of the New Zealand Arts Council's Distinguished Visiting Scholar Award.

Anne Dunning, Principal Associate, joined ARTS Action Research in 2004. She spent ten years with the Danny Grossman Dance Company in Toronto as administrative director. Among numerous arts leadership roles in Canada she was founding chair of the national council of the Canadian Dance Assembly and whip of The Creative Trust endowment campaign. She has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Dance/USA and sits on the George Cedric Metcalf Foundation’s Strategic Initiatives Committee.

Jane Marsland, Principal Associate, is based in Toronto, Canada. She has managed and consulted with arts organizations for more than 30 years. Jane served as General Manager of the Danny Grossman Dance Company from 1983-1999. She was Co-Founder of For Dance and Opera, a strategic booking and touring collaboration in Toronto and was Co-Founder and Director of ARTS4CHANGE, a program designed to create positive change for and by arts professionals in Toronto.

Mary Giudici, Business Manager for ARTS Action Research and ARTS Action Issues Publications, has been co-director on several AAR projects including the Program Assessment of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Artists’ Projects/The New York State Regional Initiative, and Atlanta Ballet’s The Parklane Dance Pilot. Prior to AAR, Mary designed for and operated her own knitwear company, Madici, and before that performed and taught dance professionally for 10 years.

Elizabeth Audley, Resource Associate, has worked with ARTS Action Research since 2001, and has ten years of fundraising, planning and management experience in New York, Philadelphia, Florida, and North Carolina. Through ARTS Action Research, she has assisted a wide range of arts organizations, from multi-million dollar institutions to community-based initiatives and centers. She maintains an active career as an actor in New York City.

Ellen Barker, Resource Associate, has been a fundraising, planning, research and grant writing consultant to cultural and social services agencies for nearly two decades. She has served as Director of Development for Signature Theatre Company, New York, leading their Capital Campaign for a permanent home on West 42nd Street. She is a consultant for the Alliance for Resident Theatres/New York, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Helen Haynes, Resource Associate, is Director of Cultural Affairs for Montgomery County Community College, Pennsylvania. She is an artist, arts administrator, presenter, arts advocate, and educator. Helen worked in Washington. D. C. for ten years at several agencies including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Museum of African Art, and consulted for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Helen came to Philadelphia in 1988 to direct the Coalition of African American and Latino Cultural Organizations. 

Keith Martin, Resource Associate, is Managing Director of Richmond Ballet, the State Ballet of Virginia. He has a 30-year career in the arts that includes producing, artistic direction and choreography in professional theatre, opera, symphony and dance. He has been Producer/Managing Director of Charlotte Repertory Theatre and a registered lobbyist and legislative strategist for ARTS North Carolina.