Contributor

Cynthia Harnisch

President and CEO, Inner-City Arts

Cynthia Harnisch is the President and CEO of Inner-City Arts, a learning oasis in the heart of skid row, Los Angeles. Called the homeless capital of America, Los Angeles is also one of America’s most creative and dynamic cities. To thrive, it must have a world-class educational system, one that utilizes arts programs as the cornerstone of high-quality education.

Founded in 1989, Inner-City Arts serves more than 9,000 children each year, at no cost to the students. Working in partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District, social service agencies and charter schools, elementary and middle school students come to the campus during the school day for instruction in the visual and performing arts. High school students participate in after-school programs and classroom teachers participate in extensive professional development workshops.

Inner-City Arts’ students are the children of the working poor. Most live at or below the poverty line in neighborhoods devoid of greenery, and rife with crime and overcrowding. They are some of the most impoverished children in Los Angeles and are among the country’s most at risk to drop out before completing high school.

Prior to being with Inner-City Arts, Cynthia was vice president of the Autry National Center for 12 years. Previously she worked for the Arizona Historical Society and the University of Arizona Museum of Art. She has worked extensively with high-poverty children and adults in both urban and rural settings.

Cynthia attended Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, Executive Education Program and the Getty’s Museum Leadership Institute. She holds advanced degrees in Museum Studies and Education Administration and an undergraduate degree in Art History.

In 2010, Cynthia was named a Community Champion by the Annenberg Foundation. She is a member of several community and cultural boards and advisory committees such as Arts for LA, Los Angeles Central Providers, Newton Division Community/Police, Para los Niños, and The Ryman Program for Young Artists. Cynthia is also a member of Art Table and is past president of the Museum Educators of Southern California. 

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