Sharon Polli
Executive Director

Sharon Polli was appointed Executive Director of the Fine Arts Work Center following a national search in spring 2021. Prior to her appointment, Sharon was the Executive Vice President of BRIC in Brooklyn, NY, a 40+-year leading arts, cultural and media institution in the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District. Sharon has dedicated her professional career to advancing artistic voices and creating opportunities for emerging and mid-career artists, performers and media makers. Prior to BRIC, Sharon was the Deputy Executive Director of Groundswell, New York’s leading community public art organization. Sharon’s 20-year career has also included being Editor of CreateNYC, New York City’s first ever city-wide Cultural Plan, which was developed through a public engagement process that reached 200,000 participants. She served as an Executive Committee Board member of the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Alliance and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of Theatre of the Oppressed NYC, an organization which partners with communities fighting against oppression to inspire transformative action through theatre. Sharon is a Coro Leadership New York alumni and graduate of Carleton College. Learn more about Sharon’s appointment here.