Courtney Sharpe MUP ’16 has been named the first Director of Cultural Planning in the Boston Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. She comes to the role from the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) where she served as the Senior Planner for Back Bay, Roxbury, and Mattapan. “This new position is a very important step in enhancing arts and culture in the City of Boston,” Mayor Martin J. Walsh said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing Courtney use her expertise as an urban planner to further implement the goals of the Boston Creates cultural plan.”

In her new role, Sharpe will act as a liaison to other City departments and public agencies and will manage all arts and culture planning initiatives. “It’s an honor to join the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture,” said Sharpe. “I am looking forward to building new relationships and am excited to work at the intersection of arts and planning to expand opportunities for the creative communities to thrive throughout Boston.”

While at the GSD, Sharpe co-chaired the inaugural Black in Design Conference, served on Student Forum as Alumni Relations Co-Chair, and was President of JewSD. She also served as an advisor for the 2017 conference, “Designing Resistance, Building Coalitions,” and was the feature of a Student Portrait video.

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Photo courtesy of the City of Boston.