Take a breath, grab a drink, and wander the Exhibit Hall with nowhere else to be. The Exhibit Hall Happy Hour is your chance to explore the Marketplace, catch up with familiar faces, and make a few new ones — all before heading to the opening celebration. Good company, great energy, and the full spirit of ArtsMarket Southeast 2026 right in front of you.

We're kicking off ArtsMarket Southeast 2026 in style. Join us for an unforgettable opening evening featuring great food, great company, and a festive atmosphere that sets the tone for everything that follows. Reconnect with colleagues, meet new friends, and raise a glass to the exciting days ahead.

The celebration continues with our Opening Plenary featuring Deborah Rutter, former President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and current Vice Provost for the Arts at Duke.

Photo Credit: Todd Rosenberg

Meet Deborah Rutter

Deborah F. Rutter is an internationally respected arts executive with nearly five decades of leadership at premier cultural institutions. She currently serves as Vice Provost for the Arts at Duke University and from 2014 to 2025 was the first female president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where she led transformative growth and centered artists in the institution's work.

A fierce advocate for artistic voices, she has collaborated with Renée Fleming, Jason Moran, Q-Tip, Mason Bates, Gianandrea Noseda, Carlos Simon, Riccardo Muti, and Yo-Yo Ma. At the Kennedy Center, she expanded artistic and educational programming, launched Social Impact initiatives, advanced arts and well-being research with national partners, and established the Hip Hop Culture Council.

Rutter led the planning, design, and opening of the REACH, the Kennedy Center's first major expansion, guiding a successful $250 million private capital campaign. Earlier roles include leading the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, securing Riccardo Muti as music director, and serving as executive director of the Seattle Symphony, where she oversaw construction of Benaroya Hall.

She serves on the boards of Vital Voices and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and holds degrees from Stanford University and the University of Southern California.

You can learn more about Deborah here.

Performing arts touring and presenting has always been a relationship business — never more so than today. Trusted relationships are essential to every presenter, artist, agent, vendor, and service organization. Join us for this beloved ArtsMarket tradition: sip something bubbly, graze the charcuterie board, swap stories and insights with colleagues from across the Southeast, and maybe even walk away with an exciting giveaway. Good bites, great company, and the connections that matter most.

Durham has one of the most exciting dining scenes in the Southeast — and we're taking full advantage. Join a small group of fellow attendees for an informal dinner at one of Durham's fantastic local restaurants before the evening showcase block. Dine-Arounds are one of our favorite ArtsMarket traditions: easy conversation, great food, and no competing programming. Stay tuned for details on how to sign up for your preferred dinner group!