Levi Landis at the 2011 Philadelphia Folk Festival
Born
Levi Preston Landis
July 8, 1982
Education
Villanova University
Occupation
Executive Director
Employer
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts
Known for
Philadelphia Folk Festival, The Center for Art in Wood
Spouse
Hannah Kern
Children
1
Levi Preston Landis (born July 8, 1982) is an arts administrator, musician, manager and festival producer.[1] Since 2016, he has been the executive director of GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, the largest visual art center in the country.[2]
Biography
After working as a touring musician, Landis graduated from Villanova University's MPA program.[3] Early in his career, he founded the community art center Emmaus, Inc, which renovated a large former Elks Lodge into a concert hall, thrift store, music school and bowling alley.[4]
While his career has focused largely on arts leadership, Levi Landis was also a professional recording artist with the rock band Complete Circle (1994-2004) and a solo artist billed as Levi Landis and The Nobodys (2004-2008), releasing his most recent LP Something About Repairs in 2006.[8] In 2008 he moved to Philadelphia and began directing the Philadelphia Folksong Society (PFS). During his tenure, the Philadelphia Folk Festival celebrated its 50th anniversary, adding more contemporary acts, and growing attendance to roughly 14,000 visitors per day.[9] Landis added a beer garden with Yards Brewing Company and two additional stages to the program.[10] In 2012, the Philadelphia Folk Festival was named one of Rolling Stone Magazine top 19 summer festivals.[11] At the PFS, Landis also launched the Philadelphia Music Co-op,[12] programmed the annual 2nd Street Festival,[13] educational programs,[14] and fundraisers, including Doc Watson's final Philadelphia area performance.
After moving to Reading in 2016, Landis continued to produce events, including concerts in association with Reading Blues Festival,[15] Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest,[16] and Berks Country Festival[17]
Landis also continues to record and perform with musical acts.
Visual art
Landis first became involved in visual arts at The Center for Art in Wood in 2014, where he superintended the staff, oversaw operations, and developed new funds, including a large grant from the Windgate Foundation.[18] Landis oversees visual art programs at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, including seven large teaching studios in ceramic, hot and warm glass, jewelry, photography, printmaking, and wood; 35 juried artists’ studios, exhibition galleries, and an independent film theatre.[19] During his leadership, GoggleWorks was featured on national TV programs,[20] Huffington Post named the art center one of the top 18 reasons to visit Berks County.[21] He has focused on fundraising to drive new programs at GoggleWorks,[22] which include the A.R.T. program for disabled artists[23] and a new restaurant.[24] Landis has produced or curated over 25 exhibitions in various mediums.
