Rachel DeGuzman - Diversity in the Arts,

Topic:  Diversity in the Arts, cultivating Multi-cultiral Artists

Rachel DeGuzman is president & CEO of 21st Century Arts, a Rochester, NY based, arts consulting business that specializes in organizational development, strategic marketing, planning/implementation of special projects/initiatives, and development of customized approaches for connecting arts and cultural organizations to diverse communities and other business sectors. 

DeGuzman is chair of the Travel Trade & Convention Publicity Task Force of the VisitRochester Industry Council, past chair of New York Presence Committee at VisitRochester Industry Council, board member of William Warfield Scholarship Fund, and member of FLREDC Tourism/Arts Work Group. 

Since 2010, DeGuzman has written the “We Dance” blog at democratandchronicle.com.

Rachel was 1 of 14 national arts professionals selected by the Association of Performing Arts Presenters for 2012/2013 Leadership Development Institute - where she spent a year in collaborative inquiry focused on theme of Knowing and Connecting Art with Community. She was a contributor to the report "Building Meaningful Relationships in Your Community," which provides tools, tactics, best practices, & case studies for effective community engagement.

Her past positions include director of advancement/external relations at Rochester City Ballet and the marketing and publicity manager of Nazareth College Arts Center where she was instrumental in founding its dance festival & established an affiliation with the New York Dance and Performance ("Bessie") Awards. She was also director of development/communications at The Commission Project and director of development at Garth Fagan Dance. 

She served on Mayor Warren's Neighborhood: Quality of Life transition focus group.She was a panelist for the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester and the NYSCA/Regional Economic Development Council grant panels. A member of Intercollegiate Diversity Agora, and Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester’s Cultural Diversity Initiative Committee.iversity in the Arts, cultivating Multi-cultiral Artists and Rachel's personal story.