Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat Brigian-Sierra.
Hi Kat, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve spent more than 20 years working at the intersection of the arts, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement. As a visual artist, I’ve always believed that creativity has the power to connect people, challenge perspectives, and strengthen communities. That belief eventually led me beyond my own studio practice and into arts administration, where I discovered I was just as passionate about creating opportunities for other artists as I was about creating my own work.
In 2019, I joined Funding Arts Broward as its first staff member, helping transform a volunteer-led organization into a professionally managed nonprofit. Over the years, I’ve worked alongside an incredible board and dedicated volunteers to strengthen operations, expand community partnerships, increase fundraising, and refine our grantmaking process to better serve Broward County’s arts community. In 2026, I was honored to be named Executive Director/CEO.
My focus is on building sustainable pathways for artists and arts organizations, growing philanthropic investment in the arts, and ensuring that creativity remains an essential part of our community’s future. I continue to maintain my own visual art practice, and I feel fortunate that my career allows me to support the arts from both sides—as an artist and as an advocate.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like most people building something they care deeply about, the road hasn’t always been smooth. There have been moments of uncertainty, limited resources, and difficult decisions that tested both my resilience and my leadership.
Working in the nonprofit arts sector means you’re constantly balancing big dreams with practical realities. I’ve had to navigate budget constraints, organizational change, fundraising challenges, and the responsibility of making difficult staffing decisions—all while staying focused on the mission. Those experiences have taught me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about listening, adapting, and making thoughtful decisions, even when they’re not easy.
On a personal level, I’ve also learned that growth often comes from embracing change. Throughout my career, I’ve continued investing in my own education, sought out mentors, and remained open to new perspectives. Every challenge has strengthened my confidence and reinforced why this work matters.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change the journey. The obstacles have made me a better leader, a better artist, and a stronger advocate for Broward’s arts community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What sets me apart is my ability to bridge the creative mind with the executive mind. I’ve spent nearly three decades building a career on both sides of the arts ecosystem, and I believe that perspective has become my greatest strength.
My journey as a photographer began in 1997, and over the years I’ve developed my own artistic practice while working alongside artists, curators, museums, galleries, collectors, and nonprofit organizations. At the same time, I’ve built a career in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, strategic planning, marketing, and organizational development.
Being both an artist and an executive allows me to see opportunities that others might miss. I understand the creative process, the vulnerability of making art, and the realities artists face. I also understand what it takes to build sustainable organizations, cultivate donors, lead teams, and create long-term impact. I spend every day using both sides of my brain—balancing vision with strategy, creativity with accountability, and innovation with execution.
I’m also a connector by nature. I have a knack for recognizing patterns, identifying emerging trends, and bringing together people, ideas, and resources that might not otherwise intersect. Whether it’s introducing an artist to a funder, connecting businesses with cultural initiatives, or helping organizations discover new opportunities for collaboration, I enjoy creating relationships that generate lasting impact. I often see possibilities before they’re fully realized, and I love helping others bring those ideas to life.
Today, as Executive Director of Funding Arts Broward, I have the privilege of bringing these strengths together. My role isn’t simply to manage an organization; it’s to connect artists, philanthropists, businesses, and community leaders around a shared vision for a stronger, more sustainable cultural ecosystem.
What I’m most proud of is helping create opportunities that have a ripple effect throughout the community. Whether it’s strengthening an arts organization through grant funding, fostering meaningful partnerships, or helping people discover the value of investing in the arts, I measure success by the lasting impact those connections create. If artists and arts organizations are better positioned to thrive because I helped build stronger relationships and systems to support them, then I’ve done my job well.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If there’s one thing I’d leave readers with, it’s this: when you support the arts, you’re not just supporting organizations or performances—you’re investing in people.
Artists are working professionals who dedicate their lives to inviting us into their inner worlds. Through their work, they give us the opportunity to laugh, cry, question, celebrate, heal, and sometimes simply feel less alone. They create spaces where we can connect more deeply with ourselves and with one another. That is an extraordinary gift.
As someone who has lived on both sides, I know how much trust it takes to create and to share that work with a community. Artists foster possibility. They challenge us, preserve our stories, spark conversations, and imagine futures we may not yet see. They do this because they believe creativity can make our communities more vibrant, compassionate, and connected.
An investment in the arts is really an investment in creative people and in the communities they serve. It gives artists the freedom to keep asking difficult questions, creating meaningful experiences, and building spaces where all of us can come together.
The side effect of supporting artists is something that can’t always be measured on a balance sheet. It’s wonder. It’s empathy. It’s belonging. It’s the moment when a piece of music, a painting, a photograph, or a performance changes the way you see yourself or someone else.
To me, that’s the real return on investment. That’s the magic.
Pricing:
- Artist Membership @FAB $750
- Junior Membership- Under 40 @FAB $750
- Individuals Membership – @FAB $1500
- Couples Membership – @FAB $2250
- Corporate Partner Join $2500-$7500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fundingartsbroward.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fundingartsbroward
- Facebook: www.facebook/fundingartsbroward
- LinkedIn: katbrigiansierra
