Introducing Mara Manus as CEO of Pioneer Works

At the beginning of this year, we embarked on a journey to find a new leader who could steer us through our most ambitious goals to date. After an extensive search led by the Board of Directors, we're pleased to welcome Mara Manus as the new Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Works. At this pivotal moment, we're thankful to have found a leader who deeply connects with Pioneer Works's longstanding mission and will have a strong focus on sustainable growth.

Most recently, Mara Manus spent seven years at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), where she led the largest U.S. state arts agency within the New York State Economic Development portfolio, supporting 3,000 organizations and artists. In each of the last three years, Manus secured historic funding of over $100M. In her tenure, she also executed the agency’s first large capital grant program, and developed strategic planning to guide growth and evolution in the agency’s role.

In an interview with the New York Times, she shared that "the opportunity to work in a place where arts and sciences are equally valued as vital parts of our culture" is what so strongly beckoned her to Pioneer Works. As we set our eyes on the future—looking literally to the stars—Manus will spearhead strategic organizational planning, development, and financial strategy, and a capital expansion campaign that will culminate in the first-ever public observatory in New York City. Join us in welcoming Mara to our humble Red Hook abode—and here's to the next decade of beautiful, creative energies at Pioneer Works.

Read the NYT Article

Read the ArtForum Article

Read the PW Announcement

Welcome Becca Keating

We're also pleased to welcome Becca Keating as Director of Advancement. She has over a decade of comprehensive experience strategically fundraising for various arts organizations across the US. Most recently, she served as Deputy Director of Development at Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) where she oversaw all fundraising efforts for the organization.