Jonathan Grimes
Jonathan Grimes has been named president/CEO of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge by the board of directors, effective immediately.
Grimes has been serving as interim president/CEO since the January retirement of Renée Chatelain, who served in that position for eight years. He will be formally introduced at the arts council's annual meeting at 5 p.m. May 23 at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, 233 St. Ferdinand St.
"We really had a number of great candidates that were interested in the opportunity, some from as far away as Oregon and Boston, as well as a number of local candidates,” Board Chair Todd L. Sterling said. “In the end, we felt Jonathan could continue the great work started by his predecessor and keep the Arts Council moving in a positive direction."
Grimes, a native of Baton Rouge, has been on staff at at the arts council for 16 years, joining the agency as events manager in 2007. He progressed up the ladder to become chief systems officer before being named executive vice president in 2022.
Grimes was heavily involved in the design and construction of the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, working with leadership, architects and construction companies to ensure the timely delivery of the center.
He currently serves as director of Festival of Lights and Red Stick Revelry for the City of Baton Rouge, project director for River City Jazz Masters and Jazz Listening Room and serves on the boards of the Downtown Business Association and Live After 5. Grimes also serves as a technical arts consultant for numerous organizations in the development of arts programming.
Grimes is a graduate of the Baton Rouge Chamber’s 2023 Leadership Class and was tapped as one of Baton Rouge Business Report’s Forty under 40 in 2021, as well as a Fork Cancer Ambassador for the American Cancer Society.
“Jonathan's got big shoes to fill, but he's up for the job," said Sterling.