Governor's Message
 About the Governor's Awards

 Arts Administration
 Arts Education
 Arts Patron
 Business Support of the Arts
 Community Development
    and Participation
 Individual Artist
 Irma Lazarus

 About the Artist
 Award Artwork

 About Arts Day
 Acknowledgements

 Stivers School
    Jazz Orchestra

 Event Sponsors
 Media Sponsors
 Table Sponsors
 Additional Support

 Award Selection Committee

Arts Administration

Art J. Falco, PlayhouseSquare, Cleveland

Nominated By: PlayhouseSquare

For the past 19 years, Art J. Falco has served as president and CEO of Cleveland's PlayhouseSquare. Though he has been with the organization since 1985, it has been within the past two decades that he has shown his aptitude for leadership, collaboration and creativity. While much of the country has struggled through difficult economic times, Falco has used his visionary ideas to allow PlayhouseSquare to consistently grow, serving an average of 1 million people annually and transforming Cleveland's theater district into one of the largest performing arts centers outside of New York, all while maintaining a balanced budget for 22 consecutive years.

Under the direction of Falco, the Cleveland theater district has seen an active revitalization. Through projects such as the Palace Theatre renovation, the construction of the Wyndham Hotel, development of the Idea Center, and most recently a groundbreaking reconfiguration of the Allen Theatre--which combines performance art and education in one state-of-the-art complex--the performing arts in Cleveland have had the capacity to meet the dynamic needs of the community.

Falco's accomplishments serve as evidence of his many talents, but those who are lucky enough to work with him can speak to another aspect of his personality. To his staff, Falco is known as a man of great character. By acting as a humble and honest leader, he has managed not only to inspire and motivate his team, but also to forge partnerships with other nonprofit and cultural institutions, allowing them to succeed together in ways they could not have independently. Referred to as "one of PlayhouseSquare's greatest assets," Falco's efforts and innovativeness have allowed him to achieve great success in advancing the arts in Ohio.

Art Falco video tribute (4:39 minutes)