Manuel Prieto
Manuel Prieto is an artist and arts administrator who joined the Los Angeles Music and Art School (LAMusArt), a not-for-profit arts organization in East Los Angeles that promotes equitable access to arts programs for local students, during a time of significant transition for the organization and community-at-large.
LAMusArt’s mission is to provide all students regardless of their race, gender, socioeconomic status and ability to engage and succeed in the arts.
Under his short but impactful leadership as Executive Director, LAMusArt has increased participation on its Board of Directors by 50%, increased opportunities for local students to enroll in tuition-free music ensemble programs by 50%, and created an advisory council of young professionals that not only fundraises on behalf of the organization, but which also provides training in board governance, finance, and event planning to all members.
Prior to joining LAMusArt, Prieto worked as an educator with Center Theatre Group and as a designer for various major networks and regional theatres. At CTG he managed patron accessibility initiatives and developed bilingual curriculum for their education department’s initiative, “theatre in your everyday life”. As a designer, Prieto has worked on productions for E! Network, Center Theatre Group, Pasadena Playhouse, Cornerstone Theatre, El Teatro Campesino, 24th STreet Theater and the LATC.
Prieto holds a B.F.A. from the University of Southern California in Theatre Design with an emphasis on education and a M.A. in Nonprofit Management from Antioch University.