TOC Arts Partners Fills Key Position for Film at Lincoln Center
September 14, 2026 – New York City-based TOC Arts Partners has helped to recruit Trent Anderson as vice president of development of Film at Lincoln Center (FLC). This follows an extensive national search led by senior strategist, Brenna Thomas.
“Throughout the search process, Trent distinguished himself with his strategic vision, fundraising expertise, and thoughtful leadership,” said Daniel Battsek, president of Film at Lincoln Center. “His impressive track record and collaborative approach made him the unanimous choice to lead this critical area of our organization. As momentum at Film at Lincoln Center continues to build, I am pleased to welcome Trent back to New York and confident he will play a vital role in advancing our mission and strengthening support for our work.”
“Having the chance to collaborate with Film at Lincoln Center on finding the right person for this hugely important role was truly gratifying because of the commitment and enthusiasm of everyone on the team”, said Ms. Thomas. “I’m so glad to see Trent Anderson take on this opportunity and harness the momentum of the moment for the organization, under Daniel Battsek’s leadership, and in partnership with the dedicated staff and board.”
Mr. Anderson is an accomplished development executive who has held a variety of roles in the arts and culture sector, most recently as director of advancement & institutional strategy at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, where he launched and led the Imagine Endowment Campaign supporting the new Goizueta Stage for Youth and Families. Prior roles include director of development at Vineyard Theatre, associate managing director at Yale Repertory Theatre, and assistant line producer at The Public Theater.
“I am honored and grateful to be joining Film at Lincoln Center as the organization enters its next phase of growth and an era of resurging interest in filmgoing as an essential cultural practice,” Mr. Anderson said. “As a lifelong movie buff and true believer in the communal power of storytelling, I am energized by FLC’s legendary history and its potential to bring new audiences together during this time of great creative ambition. I look forward to partnering with Daniel Battsek and the enthusiastic board, staff, and supporters to advance FLC’s vital contributions to Lincoln Center, to New York City, and to its global community of artists.”
Established in 1969, FLC is a non-profit organization that celebrates cinema as an essential art form and fosters a vibrant home for film culture to thrive, presenting premier film festivals, retrospectives, new releases, and restorations year-round in state-of-the-art theaters at New York’s City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. FLC offers audiences the opportunity to discover works from established and emerging directors from around the world with a passionate community of film lovers at marquee events, including the New York Film Festival (NYFF) and New Directors/New Films (ND/NF).
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TOC Arts Partners (formerly Tom O’Connor Consulting Group) is a national strategy and executive search firm for arts and culture organizations. Its team of seasoned arts leaders brings decades of first-hand experience in organizational strategy, capital project transitions, and operational excellence for arts institutions.
TOC Arts Partners Assists Union Arts Center with the Recruitment of First Artistic Director
Following an extensive national search, TOC Arts Partners has assisted Union Arts Center in Seattle, WA, with the recruitment of Yuvika Tolani as the first permanent artistic director. The search was led by vice president of executive search, Cynthia Fuhrman. “As a former resident of Seattle myself, I have enjoyed many performances of both ACT and Seattle Shakespeare over the years,” said Ms. Fuhrman. “So it was a privilege to work with the board and staff of the newly combined companies to find their first artistic director. Yuvika’s unique expertise in both theatrical production and urban planning and engagement felt like actually finding a needle in the haystack. With the work ahead for this company, I feel confident that Yuvika’s artistic leadership will move them into the future in exciting ways.”
The firm has worked alongside more than 150 arts and culture client partners in 25 states and across 11 unique genres, from stages to screens, museums to municipalities. These include both the firm’s strategy and executive search clients—including over 100 searches for executive and senior leaders.
Serving Non-Profits
Select clients have included Williamstown Theatre Festival, Pioneer Theatre (Salt Lake City), Marin Cultural Center, Ballet Hispánico, The Hult Center for the Performing Arts, The Metropolitan Opera, New York Theatre Workshop, The Moth, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Dramatists Guild Foundation, and more.
Ms. Thomas is a non-profit leader with 20+ years of experience in arts management and development. Having worked at various sized institutions around New York City, she has built a broad knowledge of board development and governance; major gift cultivation and individual giving campaigns; institutional giving and high-level funding partnerships; Government relations and advocacy work; and event planning.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
