John McInerney is the inaugural Executive Director of the Sachs Program for Arts Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania, a position he has held since 2017. He leads the program’s efforts to support arts, culture, and creative projects across Penn’s campus, with offices located at the Penn Live Arts. Prior to this role, he served as the vice president for the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance for 13 years.
Who are you? What are you about beyond your CV?
I am an unrepentant optimist. I love books, discovering new artists, listening to—and collecting—jazz. I am a musician, and I met my wife when we were playing together in a band. We love traveling, learning about different cultures, exploring the world. I’m on the board of Art Philly, a new nonprofit that celebrates and commissions Philadelphia artists. We are producing our first festival, What Now? which will take place this summer in venues across the city. I’ve been involved on the boards of several Philadelphia arts nonprofits—Eastern State Penitentiary, Vox Populi—giving back where I can. I am very proud to be a Philadelphian. This is such a diverse and interesting city.
What was your arts pathway to where you are now?
After college, I worked as a stagehand in New Orleans, setting up and tearing down large stadium shows for acts like Mötley Crüe, David Bowie, and James Taylor. I worked on Guns N’ Roses first tour. That eventually lead to an early career as a master carpenter and film projectionist, building opera sets, screening films, and working with regional orchestras, dance companies, and theaters.
At some point I realized 18-hour days stage-managing the Nutcracker were not sustainable for me, and I went to graduate school at Drexel. After graduation I was hired for my first ‘front of house’ position at the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art). That was a life-changing opportunity for me, working in an institution with such a laser focus on contemporary artists. I began to appreciate the centrality and importance of artists in our lives, particularly in Philadelphia, where there is such a strong artist and maker community.
At that point in my career, I had an opportunity to become involved in regional arts advocacy and research, working at the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance documenting the challenges facing the cultural sector ( 2004’s Arts & Culture in the Metropolis) and fighting for increased arts funding (the 2006 Portfolio).
The University of Pennsylvania—what has it come to mean to you?
At the Sachs Program our funding opportunities are open to staff, faculty, and students from all 12 schools and the many centers and programs on campus, so I have been able to meet with a wide range of communities on campus. It is a truly special place, with such a range of smart, creative and thoughtful people. No matter what creative project you are working on, there is someone at Penn who is active in that field, whether it be in the arts, the humanities, science, social work, medicine—it’s quite striking. It is an opportunity that is unique, particularly for artists. On top of that, it is a beautiful and very walkable campus where everyone works in close proximity. That just adds up to a community that really encourages collaboration. It is a culture that is very open, supportive, and engaging. As a creative person, not only do you have the resources to do interesting and innovative things, but you are immersed in a rich, vibrant, and diverse intellectual community that can really influence and expand your work.
