As National Arts Strategies’ Director, Communications, Dallas Shelby is responsible for our overall communications strategy, helping redefine all that we do as simply "service." He built our online video initiative and continues to refine what kinds of content we produce and how we make it most useful. Dallas also helped lead the development of our ArtsJournal blog, Field Notes, and provides editorial guidance as the blog's editor-in-chief.
With a background that spans both commercial and nonprofit organizations, Dallas has served as a journalist, public relations professional, graphic designer, web site developer, online editor and direct marketing strategist. Before coming to NAS, he served as the direct marketing manager for United Way of Central Maryland where he led the organization’s electronic and print marketing initiatives. He was also a resident artist at the Creative Alliance at The Patterson.
In his spare time, Dallas has always found creative ways to stay busy. In college, he started his own satirical magazine — an endeavor that slowly evolved from print to online to a film production company. He has written, directed and/or produced four independent feature films, eight short films and a television pilot. He dreams of one day running a creative hub — an organization that offers access to art and ideas, one that gives the community a vehicle for its own creative expression. Dallas is a long-time member of NAMAC, a past recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist award and has his own action figure.
The complex issues involved in leading a cultural nonprofit today can challenge even the most skilled management team. Using our first-hand experience in the arts and working with faculty from leading business and graduate schools, we deliver executive-level programs that help you find new opportunities, manage your resources and lead your organization toward its mission.
