WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS ANNOUNCES
ERIC JAMES AS NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

(Washington, D.C.) — Washington Performing Arts, one of the nation’s premier performing arts producers and presenters, announced today the appointment of Eric James as its new Chief Financial Officer. James will officially take up the position on January 3, 2022, joining the nonprofit arts organization’s dynamic management team, which is led by President and CEO Jenny Bilfield.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Eric James to Washington Performing Arts,” Bilfield said. “His experience aligns beautifully with our expansive mission and work, and I appreciate that the arts—and singing in particular—have been integral to his life. Eric has held leadership roles in such diverse sectors as the arts, philanthropy, social service, higher education, and accounting, and brings expertise spanning strategic financial operations and management, governance, and organizational development. I am certain that he will be an impactful partner for our team, and that his reputation for integrity and compassion will resonate deeply within our wonderful community.”

In his role as Chief Financial Officer of Washington Performing Arts, James will be responsible and accountable for the financial and administrative operations of the organization. His primary functions will include business operations, organizational sustainability, and liquidity management. He will also oversee the areas of information technology and human resource management, as well as provide support for strategic planning to advance Washington Performing Arts’s mission.

James shared, “As a lifelong believer in the unifying power of the arts, I am honored and excited to be joining Washington Performing Arts, one of America’s most respected and beloved arts institutions. At a time when our nation is emerging from a pandemic, I look forward to working with the talented team of this intrepid organization to bring people back together, celebrate the arts in all their wondrous diversity, and engage in a new and vibrant human conversation once again.”

James brings 20 years of experience in guiding, counseling, and leading nonprofit organizations throughout D.C. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of the NEA Foundation, where he is responsible for finances, administration, human relations, and IT needs. His tenure at the Foundation has been highlighted by close collaboration with its executive leadership, and a focus on addressing issues of diversity, equity, justice, antiracism, and inclusion internally and externally.

James holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Washington and Lee University, and a master’s degree in Administration from Trinity Washington University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Virginia. In his spare time, James enjoys singing and spending time with his husband and two children at their home in Montgomery County.

Catherine French Group guided Washington Performing Arts through the search process for this position. 

ABOUT WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS

One of the most established and honored performing arts institutions in America, Washington Performing Arts has engaged for more than half a century with artists, audiences, students, and civic life. The city is truly our stage: for decades, in venues ranging from concert halls and clubs to public parks, we have presented a tremendous range of artists and art forms, from the most distinguished symphony orchestras to both renowned and emerging artists in classical music, gospel music, jazz, and other rich traditions from around the world. We also have an ever-expanding artistic and educational presence on the internet, envisioning ongoing opportunities for online connection and community.

Washington Performing Arts deeply values its partnerships with local organizations and other arts institutions. Through events online and in myriad performance venues and neighborhoods, we engage international visiting artists in community programs and introduce local artists to wider audiences. We place a premium on establishing artists as a continuing presence in the lives of both young people and adults through residencies and education programs.

Our achievements have been recognized with a National Medal of Arts and with three Mayor’s Arts Awards from the DC Government. We have now embarked upon our second half-century, ever inspired by the motto of our founder, Patrick Hayes: “Everybody in, nobody out.”

For more information, please visit washingtonperformingarts.org.

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