Beverly Hills The Wallis names Manuel Prieto Director of Education, bringing bold leadership and a deep commitment to equitable arts access.
Beverly Hills The Wallis Names Manuel Prieto Director of Education: A New Era for Arts Access
The headline says it all: Beverly Hills The Wallis names Manuel Prieto Director of Education—and for anyone invested in equitable arts access from Los Angeles to Manhattan, this is big news. Prieto, known for his innovative leadership and deep commitment to community arts, brings fresh energy at a time when arts education feels more essential than ever.
His appointment reflects a fun-loving optimism, a sense of responsibility, and a flavor of creativity that cities like Aspen, Chicago, Hong Kong, and Atlanta all understand well.
This is the kind of hire that reminds us why the arts matter—how they connect neighborhoods, spark new ideas, and provide spaces where everyone can belong. And let’s be honest: it’s relatable to celebrate when a leader shows up who actually sees people, hears them, and serves them.
A Leader Rooted in Community and Vision
Manuel “Manny” Prieto steps into his new role on September 1, 2022, where he will guide strategic planning and operations for GRoW @ The Wallis, the institution’s acclaimed education and outreach programs. His work will support diverse communities across Beverly Hills and the greater Los Angeles region.
He will collaborate closely with Executive Director and CEO Rachel Fine, artistic staff, and the Board of Directors to ensure all programming aligns with The Wallis’ mission, vision, and core values.
Fine expressed the organization’s enthusiasm with unmistakable clarity:
“MANNY PRIETO IS A DEDICATED ARTS EDUCATION PIONEER AND ADVOCATE,”
SAYS FINE.
“A VISIONARY AND COMMUNITY-FOCUSED TRAILBLAZER,
HE IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING ARTS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS REMAIN INDISPENSABLE IN OUR COMPLICATED AND EVOLVING WORLD.
On behalf of The Wallis’ Board of Directors and staff, we welcome Manny enthusiastically to our senior management team. Under his strategic guidance, The Wallis will continue to prioritize its education department to serve the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles communities with forward-thinking educational programs that reflect the rich cultural diversity and needs of our great cities.”
This leadership shift marks both continuity and evolution—an exciting blend that feels familiar to anyone who has watched cultural institutions reinvent themselves in cities like Washington, D.C., San Francisco, or Berlin.
A Career Built on Advocacy, Creativity, and Modernizing Arts Education
Prieto arrives at The Wallis after a powerful tenure at the Los Angeles Music and Art School (LAMusArt), where he served as Executive Director. The East LA institution has a 77-year legacy of bringing arts education to thousands of underserved youth—and Prieto pushed the mission further.
He recontextualized what arts training could be, challenging outdated standards and uplifting a new, diverse generation of creators. His drive helped expand programming, improve working conditions, grow scholarship opportunities, implement a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion policy, renovate spaces, and double the organization’s budget.
His approach? Bold, modern, and deeply people-centered. Fun-loving where needed, serious when required—balanced like the best leaders in the arts world.
Prieto says the new role at The Wallis feels like a natural extension of his purpose:
“I am tremendously excited to join The Wallis as Director of Education,”
Prieto
“The Wallis is unwavering in its commitment to providing opportunities for audiences of all abilities, ages, and interests so they never stop learning and engaging in the performing arts – a guiding tenet of my life’s work thus far. The arts are where we create community, heal our divides, discover and embrace our visions, voices, and power to be creative agents of change, and foster a safe space to thrive. In my new capacity with The Wallis, I look forward to applying my expertise and belief in the power of the arts to facilitate an environment that encourages the community to think like artists and experience collective success as creative people.”
It’s a mission statement that mirrors values promoted by organizations like Americans for the Arts (https://www.americansforthearts.org/), which emphasize creativity as a force for civic engagement.
And it’s the kind of flavor-packed passion that drives arts ecosystems from neighborhood stages to major cultural hubs.
A Background That Strengthens Every Community He Serves
Before LAMusArt, Prieto worked in the education department at Center Theatre Group (CTG)—overseeing accessibility programs across the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre. He implemented bilingual curriculum initiatives and taught for institutions including CTG and P.S. Arts.
As a designer, he contributed to productions for E! Network, Pasadena Playhouse, LATC, El Teatro Campesino, and more.
His academic training includes a B.F.A. in Theater Design from USC and an M.A. in Nonprofit Management from Antioch University. He’s also held leadership roles with the Americans for the Arts Emerging Leaders Council and the Latinx Theatre Alliance-LA.
Throughout every chapter of his career, Prieto has stayed deeply connected to the communities he grew up with—communities rich in artistic talent yet often limited in resources. His guiding principle: lift up the voices that have always been there.
About The Wallis: A Cultural Beacon in Beverly Hills
The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is a vibrant cultural hub where local and international artists share creativity with ever-growing audiences. Since opening in 2013, The Wallis has produced more than 350 programs, garnered major awards, and transformed the historic 1933 Beverly Hills Post Office into a modern arts venue with two theaters, an open-air plaza, and the celebrated GRoW @ The Wallis education center.
Recognized by outlets like Culture Vulture and LaLa Magazine, The Wallis continues to shape the performing arts landscape of Southern California.
More info: TheWallis.org
FAQ: Manny Prieto and The Wallis
Q: When does Manny Prieto begin his role as Director of Education?
A: He assumes the position on September 1, 2022.
Q: What programs will he oversee?
A: Prieto leads the strategic planning and operations of GRoW @ The Wallis education and outreach initiatives.
Q: What makes Prieto uniquely qualified?
A: His background spans nonprofit leadership, arts education, community engagement, theater design, and a lifelong commitment to accessible arts experiences.
A Forward-Looking Step for Beverly Hills and Beyond
With Beverly Hills The Wallis names Manuel Prieto Director of Education, the institution signals a bold and inspiring chapter for its community. Prieto’s vision, experience, and heart-centered leadership promise to deepen access, enrich programming, and elevate creative voices across Los Angeles.
For anyone who cares about the future of arts education, this moment is worth celebrating—and watching closely as the next chapter unfolds.
