BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — The new head of a Bed-Stuy community hub is seeking to spotlight Brooklyn’s vibrant arts scene.
Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation tapped Dr. Indira Etwaroo as its first executive director of the Center for Arts and Culture (CAC) on Monday in an effort to “elevate its commitment” to the cause.
Established in 1967, the Fulton Street venue has hosted year-round events and programs with its Billie Holiday Theatre, Skylight Gallery, Youths Arts Academy, and Restoration Plaza.
The new role aims at shaping CAC’s role in the community and showcasing the borough’s cultural landscape to serve thousands of Brooklyn residents, according to officials.
“In many ways, this feels like a homecoming for me,” Etwaroo said in a statement.
“I am honored to join this profoundly committed team of art makers, meaning makers and risk takers in the service of community cultivation and place-making explored through the lens of the African Diasporic experience.
“I believe all roads have led me to this moment in my professional journey and I am excited to embrace this artistic undertaking with energy, innovation, a spirit of collaboration and a commitment to excellence — all pillars of Restoration.”
After receiving degrees in cultural studies, music and dance education, Etwaroo performed at the National Black Theatre Festival and worked in Ethiopia to research traditional performances.
She also served as the founding executive producer for the Jerome L. Green Performance Space in Manhattan.
In her new role, she’ll work to highlight the work of central Brooklyn’s artists and those of African descent.
Etwaroo will also prioritize “Brooklyn’s ongoing revitalization,” according to Restoration officials.
“We’re betting on two key drivers: smart partnerships and a leader who is able to take the Center for Arts and Culture to the next level,” said Wayne Winborne, chair of the Billie Holiday Theater Board.
“We have found that leader in Indira Etwaroo.”
