The City of Chandler has appointed Julianna Crespo, a performing arts executive with more than 14 years of experience leading programming, venue operations, audience development and organizational strategy, as the new General Manager of the Chandler Center for the Arts.
Crespo will begin her new role on Monday, August 10, as the Center prepares to reopen this October following a major renovation and enters an exciting new chapter of strategic planning, community investment and artistic growth.
Following a national search with more than 240 applicants, Crespo was selected for her collaborative leadership style, nonprofit executive experience and track record of building partnerships that advance arts education, workforce development and community impact.
“Julianna brings exactly the combination of strategic leadership, operational excellence and collaborative leadership we were seeking,” said Kim Moyers, Cultural Development Director for the City of Chandler. “Her experience expanding youth arts education, developing community collaborations and strengthening relationships with schools, local governments and nonprofit organizations aligns perfectly with the Chandler Center for the Arts’ mission. We are confident Julianna is the right leader to guide the Center into its next chapter.”
Most recently, Crespo served as Executive Director of Mosaic Theatricals in Escondido, California, where she led the organization’s transition to an independent nonprofit while expanding professional theatre productions, youth arts education and workforce development initiatives. She also strengthened partnerships with the City of Escondido, the Escondido Union School District and California State University San Marcos, using the arts to create educational opportunities, build workforce pathways and contribute to the region’s economic vitality.
Prior to that, Crespo spent more than a decade at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, where she curated the presented season and oversaw programming, patron services, community events, rentals and box office operations, presenting nationally and internationally recognized artists across theatre, music, comedy, family entertainment and cultural events.
Rooted in her Chicana heritage, Crespo credits the mentors who encouraged and challenged her throughout her career and is passionate about creating those same opportunities for the next generation of arts leaders.
“I am honored to join the City of Chandler and the Chandler Center for the Arts and become part of a community that has already made me feel incredibly welcome,” said Crespo. “I am grateful to Michelle Mac Lennan for the remarkable foundation she has built through her years of leadership, and I look forward to building on that legacy. The Chandler Center for the Arts plays a vital role as a place where people experience the joy, inspiration and human connection that the arts make possible. I look forward to listening, learning and building relationships as we guide the Center’s next chapter together.”
The Chandler Center for the Arts is a unique partnership between the City of Chandler, the Chandler Cultural Foundation and the Chandler Unified School District, serving as both a premier performing arts venue and an important educational and community resource. Following its October 2026 reopening after a major renovation, Crespo will help lead development of a new strategic plan while guiding the Center’s next chapter of artistic and community impact. In March 2027, the Center will present the world premiere of Yellowroot: A Juke Joint Cabaret, further establishing Chandler as a destination for the creation of new artistic work.
For more information about programs, performances and exhibitions, visit chandlercenter.org.
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