Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) - Meet BRAC's New Executive Director Akia Squitieri!

 

BRONX RIVER ART CENTER 

Celebrating 37 Years of Bringing Arts & Cultural Programs to the Bronx

A Warm Hello from BRAC’s New Executive Director Akia Squitieri

Dear BRAC Community,



It is with great excitement, deep gratitude, and a full heart that I introduce myself as the new Executive Director of the Bronx River Art Center. I am truly honored to join this vibrant and resilient community of artists, educators, students, families, and partners who have long made BRAC a cornerstone of creativity, learning, and cultural exchange in the Bronx.

Throughout my career in the arts, I have been passionate about fostering spaces where diverse voices are not only heard but celebrated. What drew me to BRAC was its powerful mission: a unique fusion of art, education, and environmental stewardship that reflects the Bronx’s rich cultural identity while nurturing the next generation of creators and change-makers.

For over four decades, BRAC has offered a vital platform for connection, exploration, and expression. From dynamic exhibitions that challenge and inspire, to our youth and adult education programs, community performances, and affordable artist studios—this is a place where creativity thrives in service of community. I am especially inspired by the way BRAC encourages creative activism and places art at the heart of neighborhood revitalization and environmental awareness.

As I step into this role, I bring with me a commitment to inclusivity, collaboration, and joy. I look forward to listening and learning from each of you—our students, families, teaching artists, studio residents, curators, performers, and community partners. Your voices will be at the center of our work moving forward, and I am eager to build on BRAC’s legacy with a shared vision for connection, creation, and an equitable future.

There is so much ahead to be excited about, and I can’t wait to meet you—whether in a class, at a gallery opening, a performance, or over a conversation about how BRAC can continue to grow and thrive with and for our community.

Thank you for welcoming me so warmly. Let’s make magic together.

With gratitude and enthusiasm,

Akia Squitieri

Executive Director

Bronx River Art Center

www.bronxriverart.org | @akiasquitieri

Akia Squitieri is an award-winning Producer, Director, and Arts Administrator with over 20 years of experience in theater, performing & visual arts and cultural leadership. She is the new Executive Director of the Bronx River Art Center, following recent roles as Director of Arts & Culture at the 14Y and Director of HR at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre.

Akia is the Founding Artistic Director of Rising Sun Performance Company and was Interim Co-Executive Director of the New York Innovative Theatre Foundation. Her career includes key roles with Blue Man Group, FRIGID New York, the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, and many others.

A dedicated mentor and thought leader, Akia has spoken and taught at institutions such as NYU, Ramapo College, Theatre Resources Unlimited, and Theatre Communications Group. She is an alumna of the Commercial Theatre Institute and an active member of the League of Professional Theatre Women, Directors Lab North & West, and the League of Independent Theatre.

She’s a passionate advocate for safe, inclusive arts spaces and the founder of Creating Safe Spaces, the first anti-harassment training program for theatre professionals in the U.S.