The new finance director of United Arts of Central Florida knows a thing or two about the local cultural scene: He has been part of it for years.
David Whitfield will take up the post on Nov. 30. He succeeds Juliana Steele, who announced her retirement last month.
“We are incredibly excited to have David join the team at United Arts,” wrote president Jennifer Evins in a statement announcing Whitfield’s arrival. “With his extensive financial and operational experience combined with his love and knowledge of the arts in Central Florida, we are very fortunate to have found someone who is extremely qualified and has dedicated their career to seeing the arts flourish.”
Whitfield most recently spent four years as director of operations and finance at Enzian Theater in Maitland. Before that, he was the longtime director of finance and administration at the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. During his tenure there, the orchestra took on the responsibility of presenting opera for Central Florida after Orlando Opera went out of business.
In addition, Whitfield served a stint as interim executive director of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras.
“One of the things I have always appreciated through my years of working in the arts is the passion and commitment of the people who make the art we all enjoy possible,” said Whitfield in a prepared statement. “I am excited by this new opportunity with United Arts to serve the wider arts community and these colleagues I admire so much.”
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United Arts of Central Florida is an advocacy and fundraising organization that supports dozens of cultural entities in Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties. It recently was awarded $500,000 by the National Endowment for the Arts, which it will distribute to local groups through grants.
Steele, who will retire Dec. 17, had served as finance director for 15 years. She also had two notable stretches as interim president and CEO, first from 2011-12, and most recently from 2020-21 as she led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The last 15 years have flown by,” Steele wrote in a statement. “I would like to think that my time here has moved the mission forward and elevated the organization in the eyes of the community and of our partners.”
Hired by Margot Knight, Steele led United Arts between Knight’s departure and the arrival of Flora Maria Garcia, and then again when Garcia retired. Evins became president and CEO of the organization in July.
Arts and political leaders have praised Steele for her work dealing with multiple federal grants and assistance programs during the pandemic and its resulting entertainment shutdown, but she shared the credit.
“It is hard to point to just one thing that I am most proud of, because I view the arts as a team effort,” Steele wrote. “We are all critical to ensuring the magic stays alive in our community. Thank you all for your confidence and support over the years, and I will see you in the audience!”
Find me on Twitter @matt_on_arts, facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at [email protected]. Want more theater and arts news and reviews? Go to orlandosentinel.com/arts
