CCI 2.0 MENTOR

Laura Greer joined the world-famous Apollo Theater in 2005 after over twenty years of working in the performing arts. She is dedicated to presenting and commissioning artists of African descent and introducing new voices and talents to the attention of diverse audiences.

Greer is currently a Senior Producer at the Apollo Theater. Throughout her tenure, she has been a member of the leadership team and instrumental in shaping the design and implementation of the “new” artistic vision and strategies for the Apollo’s performing arts, education and community programs, and archive project.

Ms. Greer has created several of the Apollo Signature Programs: the Salon Series, a new works residency and performance series providing critical support in the creation and development of contemporary new work; Music Café, a late-night cabaret series spotlighting the next generation of music artists; and Africa Now!, an annual festival that celebrates the best of today’s African music. She’s spearheaded and managed several international collaborations including Breakin’ Convention (2013, 2015, 2017) , an international hip hop dance theater festival with Sadler’s Wells, London; a collaboration with Jazz à Vienne (2014, 2016), a leading European jazz festival in Vienne, France, featuring presentations in Vienne and New York; Amateur Night Goes to London (2012), the first international presentation of Amateur Night at Hackney Empire; and the Apollo’s successful presentation of Southbank London’s New York premiere of the Women of the World Festival 2015, 2017 (WOW).

Prior to her work at the Apollo, Ms. Greer was the Associate Producer at the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, Georgia (1999-2005), where she was responsible for the artistic and production oversight of the annual ten-day festival. She has also served as the Director of Programming at 651 Arts at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Majestic Theater, specializing in works grounded in the African Diaspora. She has held various leadership positions at Aaron Davis Hall at City College of New York (1985-1998), now known as Harlem Stage.

Greer has served on numerous panels and committees, including the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, Harlem Arts Festival, Georgia Council on the Arts, a primary partner of the 651 Arts Africa Exchange Project, and the Bessie Committee.