St. Louis arts groups merge administrative staff
The Muny will manage specific business functions for Jazz St. Louis in a new arrangement designed to reduce operating costs for the jazz venue.
By Paula Delgado ·
Administrative costs for the Grand Center-based jazz venue will drop starting this week. The Muny and Jazz St. Louis announced a shared services partnership on Thursday. Under this agreement, the outdoor theater will take over specific business tasks for the jazz organization.
The Muny will provide staff to handle marketing, finance, fundraising, and production duties for Jazz St. Louis. This is not a merger. Each organization will keep its own board and governance structure. One member of the Muny’s fundraising team has already transferred to the jazz group.
Kwofe Coleman, the Muny’s president and CEO, stated that the theater has the capacity to support these functions. He noted that small adjustments to their existing staff allow them to help Jazz St. Louis save money on expenses. Coleman is also a member of the Jazz St. Louis board.
Jazz St. Louis has faced financial pressure in recent years. Tax documents show the organization had a budget deficit of $382,176 as of March 2025. Leaders cut several key positions at the end of the previous season due to these constraints.
The Muny is one of the better-funded arts nonprofits in the region. Its annual budget exceeds $33 million. The theater completed a $100 million capital campaign in 2018 to mark its 100th anniversary. The funds were used for facility improvements in Forest Park.
Jazz St. Louis leadership changed in February when Victor Goines departed. He had led the group since 2022. Adaron Jackson and Cynthia Danley now serve as co-directors. Goines has since taken a role at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, where he is listed as a teacher and jazz chair.
The jazz venue launched its 2026-27 season this week with a performance by Cyrus Chestnut. The organization was founded in 1995 as Jazz at the Bistro. An $8 million fundraising effort in 2014 allowed for a renovation and expansion to include educational programming.
Coleman described the new arrangement as a model for cooperation. He said the Muny is committed to the long term and not just a short-term fix. He used the term cousins to describe the new relationship between the two institutions.
