DMPA NAMES MONICA HOLT AS NEXT PRESIDENT & CEO
November 10, 2025
Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) proudly announces Monica Holt, a nationally recognized arts leader and former senior vice president of artistic planning at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as its next president and chief executive officer. Holt will assume the role in January 2026, following the retirement of Jeff Chelesvig, who concludes his 30-year tenure later this month.
“It is an honor to join Des Moines Performing Arts, an institution whose national reputation for artistic excellence is matched by its deep roots and community connections in Des Moines and throughout Iowa,” said Holt. “I’m inspired by the opportunity to build on Jeff Chelesvig’s remarkable legacy while working alongside DMPA’s passionate staff and board to ensure the arts remain central to the lives of Americans at every stage. Together, we’ll strengthen DMPA’s role as both a world-class presenter and a vital community partner.”
Throughout her 16 years with The Kennedy Center, Holt held several key leadership roles and earned a standing as a collaborative, forward-looking innovator within the Center and in the industry. As senior vice president of artistic planning, she spearheaded transformative institutional strategies to attract audiences and drive revenue, stewarded a $110+ million budget, and led programming for over 2,000 events across all art forms, reaching over two million patrons annually. Known for her deep commitment to nurturing talent and creating dynamic, responsive teams, Holt pioneered initiatives and partnerships across sectors and championed the essential role performing arts centers play in fostering community wellbeing.
Before leading the artistic division at The Kennedy Center, Holt served as director of marketing, where she built and led a dynamic team focused on brand storytelling, predictive financial modeling, and expanded audience engagement for the Center, Washington National Opera, and National Symphony Orchestra. She is an Emmy Award-winning executive producer and hosts the arts and culture industry podcast CI to Eye.
“Monica’s experience at The Kennedy Center and her track record of leading high-impact initiatives are impressive,” said Ardis Kelley, chair of Des Moines Performing Arts Board of Directors. “Her proven ability to foster collaboration, embrace innovation, and deepen community connections – while maintaining the highest standards of artistic excellence – makes her the ideal leader to guide DMPA forward. We’re thrilled to welcome her to Des Moines.”
Chelesvig will retire on Nov. 21, concluding his impressive three-decade tenure with DMPA. To ensure a smooth transition, Heidi Watkins, long-time vice president and chief financial officer, will serve as interim president and CEO until Holt begins her role in January.
About Monica Holt
Monica Holt is a nationally respected arts executive and Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer with a track record of leading high-impact initiatives at the intersection of creativity, strategy, and community. Most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Artistic Planning at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Monica led institutional and programmatic strategy, growing a $110M+ annual budget and overseeing more than 2,000 events each year across all artforms—including theater, dance, music, comedy, social impact, international presentations, and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. Currently, she serves as Senior Advisor to Capacity Interactive and hosts their arts and culture industry podcast, CI to Eye.
A visionary and implementer in equal measure, Monica's ability to bridge artistic integrity with operational excellence is matched by her fluency in collaboration with artists, labor unions, community partners, and national stakeholders alike. Her work spans the full arc of institutional leadership from long-range strategic planning and budget design to executive producing, cross-functional team development, and digital innovation.
Monica has served in several roles across the Kennedy Center, including as Senior Director of Artistic Operations and Director of Theater Producing and Programming. Before moving to the artistic division, she was the Kennedy Center's Director of Marketing, where she built out a robust new team to focus on brand storytelling, predictive financial modeling, and dynamic yield management systems for the Kennedy Center, Washington National Opera, and the National Symphony Orchestra. Her formative years in marketing and communications have continued to inform an artist-centered, audience-focused approach to programming, emphasizing inclusion, empowerment, and the long-term vitality of the arts sector.
She holds a BA from The College of William and Mary and is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Throughout her career, Monica has been guided by the belief that the arts are essential as both a mirror and a catalyst, inviting society to imagine a more connected, compassionate, and creative future for all.