EMILY SIMONESS

Founding Executive Director

Since 2022 Emily has worked alongside Grammy, Oscar and Tony award winning artist David Byrne, shepherding his non profit, TV, Film, Theatre and Book projects. She also works as a fundraising consultant, executive coach and strategic advisor for organizations including Imagine5, Matthew Strother Center for The Examined Life and Soul Science Lab.

From 2009-2021, Emily birthed, grew and sustained SPACE on Ryder Farm, as the organization’s Founding Executive Director. During her tenure at SPACE Emily supported 1,500 artists through fully subsidized residences. Committed to equity and justice, Emily architected The Family Residency at SPACE, a first of its kind residency supporting parent artists, and in 2017 SPACE committed to granting 50% of residencies to people of color and other underrepresented voices. While at the helm she grew SPACE’s annual operating budget from $0 to $1.5 million, the staff from 0 to 12 and the Board to 15. Emily was the organization’s primary fundraiser, securing millions of dollars for the organization.

A passionate activist, Emily co-founded TieDyen4Biden - a grassroots campaign that raised $170,000 for Democratic candidates during the 2020 election cycle. 

In 2015 she gave a talk at TEDx Broadway and currently serves on the TEDx Leadership Board. Emily holds a BFA in acting from UNCSA where she was the inaugural Kenan Arts Research Fellow. Emily has been profiled in Forbes, the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. In 2017, Emily was honored with the Lucille Lortel Visionary Award by the League of Professional Theatre Women.