Janera Solomon has been named executive director of the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, East Liberty. Solomon will be responsible for executing the theater’s strategic and business plan, expanding the theater’s role in the region’s arts and economic development mix.   She will focus on producing as well as presenting a schedule of diverse artistic performances with small and midsize companies.  

JANERA SOLOMON

As a multi- arts curator, producer and planning consultant for arts projects locally, across the country and in Canada, Janera has worked with a broad range of artists, educators and cultural institutions. She most recently served as a curator with the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, a 16-day contemporary performance festival and developed and curated the August Wilson Center’s, first international performing arts festival, “First Voice.”  

Curriculum development and museum planning are among her professional works. The daughter of steelpan craftsman and performer Phil Solomon, Janera is also recognized for her musical proficiency and has taught steelpan at Northside Urban Pathways Charter School, Downtown.

A native of Guyana who grew up in Pittsburgh, she is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and a fellow with the Studio for Creative Inquiry at Carnegie Mellon University.  She is a board member of Future Tenant and serves on advisory boards for several local arts and cultural organizations including The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.