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Staff Directory
Veletta Forsythe Lill
Executive Director
Veletta Forsythe Lill has long been active in the civic affairs and the arts, previously serving 8 years on the Dallas City Council. Ms. Lill’s duties as Councilmember included her role as Chair of the council’s Arts, Education and Libraries Committee, where she was a powerful advocate for the cultural life of our city.
Her support of arts infrastructure led to the expansion of the boundaries of the city’s Arts District, the historic designation of our nation’s only Frank Lloyd Wright designed theater, and overwhelming voter approval of the city’s seed investment for the future $354 million AT&T Performing Arts Center. During her tenure several new municipally owned cultural facilities opened to wide acclaim including the Ricardo Legorretta designed Latino Cultural Center. Her work with the Nasher Sculpture Center enabled the city’s contribution of $2 million for infrastructure improvements, enhancing the world renown, privately funded facility.
In addition to being an advocate for the creation of new cultural facilities, both public and private, she has championed programming efforts. During Ms. Lill’s tenure as Chairwoman the city partnered with the Dallas Independent School District to create ArtsPartners, a nationally recognized arts-in-education program for elementary school children. As a Mayoral appointee to the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau board Ms. Lill has served as the agency’s Vice Chair, leading efforts to promote cultural tourism and film production for the city.
Ms. Lill has been a committed volunteer since her arrival in Dallas in 1985. In addition to her service to the city she has served on numerous community boards – large and small -including Parkland Foundation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Dallas Museum of Art. She has been honored with a number of awards including Honorary Membership in the Texas Society of Architects, TITAS’ Tom Adams Award of Appreciation, the Dallas Center for Contemporary Art’s Legends Award, and the Neiman Marcus Downtown Renaissance Award. In April 2006 her work on behalf of the Arts District, urban planning and historic preservation led to her acceptance of the American Planning Association’s Distinguished Leadership Award for an Elected Official.
Catherine Nodurft
Marketing Coordinator
Catherine Karam has received her BA in Art Business from Spring Hill College and her MBA from Baylor University. She has had a lifelong passion for both performing and fine arts.
Catherine operates the social media sites for Dallas Arts District.
214.744.6642