Amy Kirwin Joins Guild Hall As Its First Chief Creative Officer

Guild Hall in East Hampton has announced the appointment of Amy Kirwin as the institution’s inaugural chief creative officer. This key leadership role was created to support Guild Hall’s 90th anniversary in 2021, and to oversee brand marketing, communications, and multi-platform promotional content.

Kirwin, who is presently artistic director at Southampton Arts Center, will assume her new role on February 1.

“I had the good fortune to work with Amy Kirwin on public engagement at the Parrish Art Museum, and as founding members of Hamptons Arts Network,” said Guild Hall Executive Director Andrea Grover. “Amy’s creativity and stamina are par excellence, and her blended background in theater and visual arts lends itself perfectly to Guild Hall’s interdisciplinary framework. She will be a vital member of our 90th celebration, foregrounding joy and community participation — hallmarks of her work in the arts.”

In her role at the Southampton Art Center, Kirwin helped to establish the institution’s prominent role as a gathering place for the arts. As the artistic director, she defined the organization’s vision, brand and messaging with an emphasis on community engagement, diversity and artist-led initiatives.

Kirwin conceived, curated and produced the exhibitions and programs “TAKEOVER: Artists-in-Residence,” “Unity Fest,” “Storefront Art initiative” and “The Public Art Project” co-organized with artist Eric Fischl. She has served on the Southampton Village Business Revitalization Committee since 2019 and is a founding member of Hamptons Arts Network.

“When I moved to the East End in 2010, I had worked for 15 years in NYC’s theater industry and jumped headfirst into the visual art world at the Parrish Art Museum,” said Kirwin. “For the last five years as artistic director of Southampton Arts Center, I’ve had the great pleasure of helping to build their vibrant exhibition program, artist residency, and year-round public programs, and have been humbled by the ongoing enthusiasm and encouragement.

“Now, I am honored to continue to support the boundless artistic expression of this community as Guild Hall’s first chief creative officer.”

Originally from Los Angeles, Kirwin has a degree in theater and film from University of Kansas and completed two-years in the acting conservatory program at Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York City. Early in her career, she managed the box offices for Forbidden Broadway and The New Victory Theater. She was ultimately part of the three-person team that opened and operated 59E59 Theaters, serving as director of sales and membership and playing a key role in creating the identity of the institution that remains strong today. She later became manager of partnership marketing at the Broadway League and Tony Awards, creating the Broadway Concierge program to manage high-level hospitality for corporate sponsors including Avis, Continental Airlines, NetJets, Sprint, Amtrak, Audemars Piguet, IMB, Chase, the New York Times and more.

She joined the staff at the Parrish Art Museum in 2010 in advance of opening the new Herzog & de Meuron facility in Water Mill. There, she established the Parrish’s visitor services department and served as visitor services and programs manager. She was named artistic director of Southampton Arts Center in May 2016 and has expanded the organization’s public offerings from 50 to over 200 annually, and from seasonal to year-round. She joins Guild Hall as its first chief creative officer as the institution celebrates nine decades of creative presentations.