Des Moines Performing Arts Appoints Former Kennedy Center Leader as CEO, Aiming for Statewide Arts Expansion
Monica Holt has been appointed as the new president and CEO of Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA), succeeding Jeff Chelesvig who retired after three decades. Holt, who previously served as the senior vice president of artistic planning and production at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, brings extensive experience in arts administration. Raised in the Washington, D.C. area, Holt was deeply involved in music, theater, and dance from a young age. Her career at the Kennedy Center included roles in opera, marketing, and theater production. Holt's move to Iowa comes after significant changes at the Kennedy Center, where President Trump installed new board members, leading to a shift in the institution's mission and vision. Holt aims to expand DMPA's reach across Iowa, enhancing access to the arts beyond Des Moines. She is particularly focused on projects like the Willis Broadway season and the Hy-Vee Summer Art Series, which will offer free performances in local parks. 
