• Programming
• Leader of the Arts

Jay Constantz

April 2006

For over 25 years, Jay Constantz has made his mark on Atlanta’s arts landscape. Director of the Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech since 2002, he is dedicated to presenting some of the best artists in the world, enhancing the educational experience of the students at Georgia Tech, and welcoming the Atlanta community to Tech’s beautiful campus. From classical virtuosos such as Itzhak Perlman to contemporary jazz artist Chris Botti and the Beijing Modern Dance Company, the Ferst Center offers a diverse and outstanding range of programming. The Center, which serves as the stage home for several Atlanta performing arts companies including Ballethnic Dance Company and the Atlanta Lyric Theatre, also houses two art galleries and runs a drama camp for children every summer.

During his years at the Ferst Center he has secured new funding from public and private sources to support artistic initiatives, including the exhibition of the Hewitt Collection of African-American Art, launching a pre-show lecture program for jazz and dance performances, reinstating the Arts in Education program, and improving the accessibility of student tickets.

Mr. Constantz began his arts career in Atlanta at the Fox Theatre, serving as Assistant General Manager for 15 years, and then produced First Night Atlanta, a family-oriented New Year’s Eve arts event. From 1998-2000, Mr. Constantz served as the Executive Director of First Night Atlanta where he initiated a “call for artists” - using local resources to support local and regional artists and organizations, as well as commissioning projects that kept First Night Atlanta a part of the community all year long. This endeavor led to programming of a citywide community art festival.

Prior to joining the Ferst Center in April 2002, Mr. Constantz held the positions of Executive Director of Bayfront Park Management Trust and Managing Director of Gusman Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida. Under his leadership and in his first year, he created Bayfront Park’s first-ever surplus of $250,000+ and $500,000+ in his second year.

Mr. Constantz attended the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University in St. Louis, and began his theatrical career working as the House Manager of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Plant and Operations Manager of the Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

He currently serves on the board of Dad’s Garage Theatre Company and has served on various boards and chaired several committees throughout Atlanta, including the Devereux Center, Project Open Hand, First Night Atlanta, 7 Stages Theatre, and barking dog theatre. He is a member of the International Association of Assembly Managers, a graduate of Leadership Atlanta and Midtown Leadership, a member of the Steering Committee of the Southern Arts Federation’s Performing Arts Exchange, and a member of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters. Recently he has served as a grant panelist for the Fulton County Arts Council, the Georgia Council for the Arts, and the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation.

He and partner Doyle Reynolds, local actor, are urban pioneers and have lived downtown since 1985, currently in the Fairlie Poplar District.