News | Devon Akmon

Hiking The Waterloo-Pinckney Trail

July 7, 2019 Adventure

On Thursday, the Fourth of July, Dharma and I set out to hike the 36-mile Waterloo-Pinckney Trail. We’ve been meaning to hike this route for some time and the long weekend finally provided an opportunity to give it a go. On Thursday, we hiked from Portage Lake (starting point in Chelsea) to Horseman’s Camp, which was approximately 14 miles of hiking. It was a tough day. The temperatures were hot and humid. We found ourselves caught in a thunderstorm mid-wayRead More

Sydney, Australia | May 2019

June 30, 2019 Adventure

It was a real treat to visit Sydney, Australia this past May. We had the pleasure of attending multiple programs and events hosted in conjunction with Vivid Sydney. For the uninitiated, Vivid Sydney is an annual festival of light, music, and ideas. In addition to enjoying some amazing light installations and projections along Circular Quay, The Rocks, Royal Botanic Garden, Darling Harbour, there was also an impressive music program. We had the pleasure of catching the Cure’s 30th anniversary performanceRead More

Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon

April 28, 2019 Adventure

Yesterday I completed my second marathon of the year and fifth overall. The Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon here in Louisville was a nice event. The weather was sunny and warm and the course was scenic. I had previously run the miniMarathon (a half marathon) and found the course to be flat, fast, and fun. I was expecting the same for the full marathon. The truth be told, the course was fast and fun. However, it certainly was not flat. TheRead More

Paris, France | November 2018

April 21, 2019 Adventure

My photographs from our one-week holiday to Paris, France are now live on Flickr.

Pro Bono Strategic Planning and Research Initiative

March 18, 2019 News

Earlier today our team announced that we will be providing five arts and cultural organizations in rural, semi-rural, or micropolitan communities with pro bono strategic planning services. This opportunity, underwritten in full by the University of Maryland, was open to organizations across the country through a competitive application process. I’m looking forward to joining my colleagues and the participating organizations as we collaborate to craft new strategic plans. This work will focus on long-term artistic and educational programming; marketing andRead More

2019 Fitbit Miami Marathon

March 17, 2019 Adventure

On January 27, I completed the 2019 Fitbit Miami Marathon. It was my first marathon of the year and fourth overall. All in all, it was a well-organized event and a great tour of the city. The course started in downtown Miami on Biscayne Boulevard in front of American Airlines Arena and ended nearby at Bayfront Park. In between, runners toured various parts of the city, including Miami Beach, downtown Miami, Key Biscayne, Brickell, and Coconut Grove. While the courseRead More

Supporting the Arts Innovation & Management Program

October 18, 2018 News

Beginning this Fall, our team will be providing capacity building support to over 240 small- and mid-sized arts organizations in seven cities. These organizations are all funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies through their unique and impressive Arts Innovation and Management program. The seven cities include Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, District of Columbia, Denver, New Orleans, and Pittsburgh. We will be leading a series of daylong seminars on a variety of subjects throughout the two-year grant period. Additionally, we will also provide one-on-oneRead More

Interim Leadership Work with the San Antonio Symphony

July 11, 2018 News

Beginning this month, I have the pleasure of joining my colleagues in working with the San Antonio Symphony. Extending through the end of the year, I will be helping to run the day-to-day operations for the Symphony through our work as an interim leadership team. This means I’ll be working from San Antonio three days per week. I’m looking forward to supporting the Symphony during this pivotal time for the organization. News: San Antonio Symphony names new interim executive director

Act Two: Arts Consulting

June 1, 2018 News

Today marks my first day working as a senior consultant with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management. I’m very excited to begin this new chapter supporting arts institutions nationwide. Time to get to work!

Time To Begin A New Chapter

April 4, 2018 News

After 13 years of helping to establish and grow the Arab American National Museum, I’ve decided now is the time to pursue new opportunities and experiences. I will forever cherish my time with the Museum, which includes four years as deputy director and five years as director, and I am immensely proud of what our team and community have been able to achieve. I know the Museum will continue to flourish and I look forward to supporting the institution farRead More