Jared Shahid has been named executive director of The Innovate cultural arts center that is scheduled to open next year in the former Royal Poinciana Playhouse building.
Shahid arrives in Palm Beach with a distinguished background in managing prestigious arts organizations and a passion for community building, The Innovate said Monday in a press release announcing his appointment.
Shahid assumes his new post in early September. He most recently served as executive director of programming at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut.
Shahid’s leadership there was marked by the introduction of diverse artists including Itzhak Perlman, Wynton Marsalis, and Anoushka Shankar, as well as events that broadened community engagement and set records for the venue’s attendance and revenue, according to the release.
Shahid’s career has been characterized by an entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to community service, according to Jill Glazer, co-founder of The Innovate.
“We are thrilled to have Jared on board as we gear up to launch Palm Beach’s iconic waterfront arts and cultural center,” Glazer said. “His forward-thinking approach and proven success in fostering community connections through the arts are exactly what we need as we look to become a cornerstone of cultural engagement in Palm Beach.”
The Innovate is a non-profit organization co-founded by Jill Glazer and her husband, Avram “Avie” Glazer, who is chairman of its board of directors. The Glazers are long-time residents of Palm Beach. The family owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Avie Glazer is co-chairman of the United Kingdom’s Manchester United Football Club.
The Innovate is a corporate sponsors of the Palm Beach Civic Association and are sponsoring the Civic Association’s Welcome Back Community Forum on November 7, 2024 at the Mandel Recreation Center. Jill Glazer is a Civic Association director.
Groundbreaking began in 2022 on the renovation of the long-shuttered Royal Poinciana Playhouse, which is part of the Royal Poinciana Plaza. Elements of the original John Volk-designed building, including the east façade and the playhouse box office, are being preserved as part of the restoration of the 66-year-old landmark.
The multi-purpose cultural arts center will have a larger lobby, 400 retractable seats, and a glass curtain wall on its west exterior with a view of the Lake Worth Lagoon.
The waterfront building also will feature a restaurant with outdoor dining and retail space. It will open to the public in time for the island’s 2025-2026 winter season, Jill Glazer said.
Shahid said he is grateful and excited to work alongside the Glazers and help bring their vision for the new arts center to life.
“Palm Beach is a very special place, and the community deserves a venue that can commensurately reflect the past, present and future of its culture,” he said.
The Innovate will achieve this goal by “establishing a balanced schedule of world-class entertainment with community-focused events and partnerships,” Shahid said.
Mary Robosson, president of the Civic Association, said the performing arts provide a wonderful opportunity to bring residents together.
“The Civic Association applauds Jill and Avie Glazer and The Innovate team, working in partnership with the Civic Association in its mission to enhance and improve the quality of life in Palm Beach,” Robosson said.
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