Stacey Cooper McMath is an expert in public sector policy, grantmaking, cultural research, and strategic initiatives. Prior to joining Webb Management Services Stacey served for eight years as Director of the Programs Unit in the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. She led the agency’s grantmaking team in a full equity audit of the $28M Cultural Development Fund and spearheaded the implementation of improvements to New York’s competitive funding process. In her policy work she supervised critical research projects, including two studies of the cultural workforce in New York City, two reports on the impact of COVID-19 on the agency’s constituents, and a data-driven analysis of $300M in grant funding. In 2020 she was named a Women in Power Leadership Fellow by the
Belfer Center for Innovation at the 92nd Street Y.

Stacey has over a decade of experience a in cross-sector collaboration between arts organizations and local stakeholders to improve wellbeing in neighborhoods and communities. She was a collaborator on CreateNYC, the city’s 2017 cultural plan, and in 2018 she launched the Mayor’s Grant for Cultural Impact, supporting dynamic partnerships between city government and arts organizations. She designed programs that placed artists in residence in 250 senior centers citywide and is a thought leader in the field of Creative Aging.

Before joining the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs as a Program Officer in 2008, Stacey served as a general manager and management consultant. As the general manager at chashama she worked to transform vacant real estate into artist studios, rehearsal spaces, and film locations. Early in her career she produced theatrical projects for Target Margin Theater, Voice & Vision Theater, Studio 42, and Polybe + Seats.

Stacey has taught in the theater departments at Barnard College and Marymount Manhattan College. She holds an MFA in Theater Management and Producing from Columbia University, where she worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and helped to launch the Columbia University Arts Initiative. She holds a BA in American History from Barnard College, where she is participates in professional development programs for current students.

Years of Experience | Public Sector Grantmaking, Arts Initiatives & Planning: 14

Years of Experience | Not-for-profit Arts Administration: 7

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree in American History, Barnard College 

Master’s Degree in Theater Management and Producing, Columbia University