Allyson Esposito

Allyson is a long-time champion of equitable resourcing for artist and creative ecosystems. Most recently, she was the founding President and CEO of Creative Arkansas Community Hub and Exchange (CACHE), the first organization of its kind in the mid-South, connecting family philanthropies, municipalities, corporations, and individuals with inclusive investment opportunities (for- and non-profit) across the region's diverse creative communities.

Previously, she served as Senior Director, Arts and Culture program for the Boston Foundation, creating and implementing the Foundation's new art strategy — championing equitable, direct investment in individual artists, inclusive public spaces, and sustainable resources for artist service entities.

A Chicagoan, Allyson served as Director of Cultural Grants for the City of Chicago’s DCASE from 2012-2015, leading the first restructure of the Cultural Grants program in more than 20 years. She came to the City after nearly a decade of consulting with Deloitte & Touche and from her first philanthropic role, supporting the restructure of Highland Park's Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation.

Allyson is a lifelong dancer and choreographer, and has worked with more than 30 groups and partners. She led the Chicago-based company The Space Movement Project (TSMP) from 2004-2015, co-creating original works, touring nationally and internationally, and co-managing the former artist-led hub Outer Space. She continues to perform into her mid-40's.