The board and Staff of Guild Hall (158 Main Street, East Hampton, NY) have announced that their Director of Learning + New Works, Anthony Madonna, has been promoted to Theater Director and Curator of Performing Arts.
Anthony is a collaborative artist, educator, and creative director who holds degrees in music education and vocal arts. He graduated from Beth Morrison Projects Producer Academy, the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (M.M. Music Leadership), Juilliard School’s Professional Apprenticeship Program, and Westminster Choir College (B.M. Music Education & Vocal Performance).
Andrea Grover, Guild Hall’s Executive Director, has said: “Anthony has demonstrated a total devotion to Guild Hall’s mission. He has a keen eye for artistry and the rigor to run a top-notch performing arts program. He loves our community and has built significant collaborations and networks across New York and with national institutions since joining us almost six years ago. Above all, he gives artists the attention they need to create their best work.”
Anthony Madonna’s Experience
Anthony joined Guild Hall in 2019 as the inaugural Patti Kenner Fellow in Arts Education and was eventually promoted to Director of Learning + New Works in 2022. In his role, he managed all of Guild Hall’s learning initiatives in schools and on-site, which included the Guild Hall Teen Arts Council (which is the first paid teen arts program in the region). He also initiated the Guild Hall’s two residency programs: the Guild Hall William P. Rayner Artist-in-Residence program and the Community Artist-in-Residence program.
Anthony Madonna has stated: “I am so grateful for the trust the Board and Staff of Guild Hall have shared with me over the past five years. The opportunity to learn from our East End communities and support the development of new projects and artists has been both professionally and personally impactful. I am excited to grow the relationships and artistry we’ve built at Guild Hall in this new role.”
Anthony’s core initiatives are the commitment to the diverse communities of the area, artist development, as well as collaborations with local arts centers, which include Ma’s House, BIPOC Art Studio, OLA of Eastern Long Island, Southampton African Museum, Eastville Historical Society, and regional partners that include Works & Process, New York Live Arts, and the New York City Center.
Anthony has worked within institutions that include the McCarter Theatre Center, the Julliard School, and the Barbican Center. His projects have been performed or shown as part of the Tate Modern: Tate Exchange (London), Unfinished, Curios Festivals (London), and The Arts Center at Duck Creek (Long Island, NY).
A New Organizational Structure
The evolution of Guild Hall’s organizational structure has aligned with its strategic plans that call for building a multi-voice programming team that encompasses visual arts, performing arts, education, and cultural and community programs. An updated Program Team has been formed with primary members Anthony Madonna, Melanie Crader (the new Museum Director and Curator of Visual Arts), and Amy Kirwin (the new Chief Public Engagement + Impact Officer).
Alongside Melanie Crader and Amy Kirwin, Anthony Madonna and the team are responsible for creating programming of wide-ranging interest to Guild Hall’s preexisting and new audiences.
A manager position for Learning + New Works will be filled in early 2025 and will report to Anthony Madonna.
About The Guild Hall
The Guild Hall, which is known as the cultural heart of the East End, is a museum, performing arts, and education center that was founded in 1931. They invite everyone to experience the possibilities of the arts and present more than 200 programs that host 60,000 visitors each year. They hold six to eight exhibitions that range from historical to contemporary, focusing on artists who have affiliations with the Hamptons.
