Coolidge Corner Theatre's Joe Zina Steps Down
Outstanding Executive Director Is Leaving in January
By: Mark Favermann - Jul 10, 2008
The Coolidge Corner Theatre is one of those special places in the cultural world. Near the brink of extinction a decade and a half ago, a group of inspired citizens resurrected it as a non-profit tax-exempt foundation. After the change over to a non-profit cultural entity, the Coolidge has grown and prospered and become not only a jewel in the cultural crown of New England but a Boston-area landmark. This was in no small part to the energy, passion, intelligence, great good taste and personal appeal of Joe Zina.
Joe Zina, the Executive Director of the Coolidge Corner Theater, has tendered his resignation to the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation Board. He will be relinquishing his role in January 2009. At that time, he looks forward to being involved in pure artistic endeavors as an artist and as a consultant to cultural institutions. He has served as the executive director of the Coolidge since 1999.
During Joe's decade long tenure, the Coolidge has experienced unprecedented growth and success. He has been the creative energy that has transformed the Coolidge Corner Theatre from a down-at-the-heels neighborhood art house into a major force in independent films nationally and internationally. This was done while developing a fabulous local base that underscores the vibrancy of the Coolidge.
According to Coolidge Board Chair, Malli Gero, "Joe has led three successful capital campaigns, directed the renovation of the theater into a showplace, creative innovative programs for diverse audiences, helped grow membership to 2500 loyal Coolidge fans, and established the theater as a model for other independent theaters across the country. He will be hard to replace."
Well liked by just about everyone, Joe Zina represents the best in cultural institutional leadership. On a personal note, I have worked with him on a number of design projects at the Coolidge. He has always been generous in artistic and personal support while demanding and getting the highest standard of achievement from all who work there.
Uniquely, Joe has been able to foster a nonpolitical atmosphere in the nonprofit institutional structure. Unlike most other cultural institutions, everyone on the board and advisory board is open and accessible to everyone else. This has been due to Joe's personal touch cultivating the Coolidge as a wonderful place to foster filmmaking and film watching not to establish position or power.
During the transition to a new director, Joe will be acting as artistic director of the Coolidge until the new director can assume those duties as well. A committee has been established by the Coolidge's board to direct the search for the new director.
Prior to becoming an entertainment and arts executive, Joe was with the Alvin Nicolai Company in New York, touring the world as a professional dancer for four years. He also danced with several companies including Carolin Carlson in Paris. Joe is on the Snappy Dance Company's board of trustees. He formally and informally advises many film and performing arts groups throughout New England and the country.
Joe Zina joined the Coolidge Corner Theatre in 1997 as a volunteer on the board of directors. In 1999, he was appointed Executive Director of the Foundation, following a diversified career history in public school arts education, college teaching, five years as a professional dancer with the Nikolais Dance Theatre of NYC and with the Susan Buirge Dance Theatre in Paris.
In 1982, he co-founded Rugg Road Papers and Prints with lifetime partner Bernard Toale while developing himself as a visual artist, production assistant, and paper store entrepreneur. His next phase was to become the glue that kept the Coolidge Corner Theatre together.
At the Coolidge Corner Theatre, he has developed innovative collaborations among communities, schools, filmmakers and non-profit organizations and has completed a five-year fundraising and capital campaign renovation of the theatre. At present, Zina has led the Coolidge through its first major expansion to develop and expand the boundaries of this community theatre with innovative programming, such as the Coolidge Award honoring major artists in the film medium, incubating film festivals of every type and integrating its program through broadband technology. He received a bachelors degree from Salem State College and a master's degree from Pennsylvania State University.
The special place in the film world of the Coolidge is quite apparent. In no small part due to the hard work, skilled organization and adroit people skills of Joe Zina, the Sundance Film Festival, the Toronto Film Festival and many, many other international festivals now take the Coolidge very seriously as a major venue for the best in independent films.
Joe Zina is a special person who has served a special institution, the Coolidge Corner Theatre, and created a special moment in our region's cultural life. It should only be onward and upward for Joe Zina. He deserves nothing less.
Photo credit Coolidge in the snow by Charles A. Silverman.