Ben Dietschi is a Senior Consultant with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management, supporting a diverse array of organizations to achieve short and long-term goals in the areas of strategic planning, artistic planning, marketing, fundraising, change management, and community engagement. Since joining the Institute, Ben has led or assisted 50+ strategic planning processes, conducted regional arts ecology studies, and served as advisor to 30+ organizations. Recent clients include The Wexner Center for the Arts (Columbus), Step Afrika! (Washington, DC), Philharmonia Baroque (San Francisco), The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music (New Orleans), and Kentucky Shakespeare (Louisville). Ben’s 18-year career in the arts has traversed roles in administrative leadership, development, artistic production, and performance. Long-term planning, entrepreneurialism, partnership building, and community engagement are hallmarks of his approach. He believes in the arts as an agent of change, seeking to create healthy organizations that transform communities. Prior to joining the Institute, Ben was executive director of Soundstreams, Canada’s leading contemporary music and opera producer. During his tenure the organization eliminated its accumulated deficit, expanded revenues by 67% to support more staged opera and immersive performances, launched an ambitious international touring program, and transformed its brand to reach new audiences. Ben fundamentally reshaped Soundstreams’ staffing structure and revitalized its board of directors with new members and a long-term vision. He also spearheaded the launch of a guest curator program designed to address the fragmented talent pipeline for music curators in Canada and contribute to the organization’s artistic succession plan. Ben has served on the boards of several cultural institutions, frequently speaks at industry forums and conferences, and has served on numerous award and grant assessment panels. He received a distinguished alumni award from Brandon University. Ben completed the DeVos Institute Global Arts Management Fellowship from 2017-2019. Fundamentally, his arts management ethos rests on formative years as a saxophonist and composer, performing and recording across North America and Europe, experiencing the transformative power of the arts firsthand. Ben holds a graduate degree in jazz performance and composition from the University of Toronto.