Ellen Kodadek

Ellen Kodadek has served for more than a decade as the Executive and Artistic Director of Flushing Town Hall, a thriving multi-disciplinary arts center and Smithsonian affiliate in New York City's borough of Queens. Since taking the helm in 2008, she paid off significant institutional debt; completed multiple capital projects to renovate and enhance the historic venue’s landmarked building; expanded staff; and implemented signature programming and initiatives to attract more diverse audiences. This included developing a Chinese Cultural Committee to forge stronger ties with New York City’s Chinese community, launching a Space Grants program offering free space for performing and visual artists, and producing the consistently sold-out Global Mashups annual concert series that pairs performers from two different countries and musical traditions together on stage for spontaneous collaboration.

Ms. Kodadek is the recipient of a 2017 Community Leader award from Treehouse Shakers, a 2017 Community Leader award from Chinese Theatre Works, a 2015 Times Ledger’s Queens Impact Award, 2010 Queens Courier Top Women in Business Award, 2007 Binghamton Mayor’s first Restore the Pride Award for Community Development, and 2005 Broome County Arts Council Heart of the Arts Award.

Before joining Flushing Town Hall, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Southern Tier Celebrates in Binghamton, New York, and before that she served as Director of Presentations as well as Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Staten Island, New York.