The City of Pompano Beach has hired Ty Tabing to be the new Cultural Affairs Director. Tabing is a nationally recognized expert in building and activating successful urban destinations. The creativity he employed in his revitalization projects led the Chicago Tribune to name him “Chicagoan of the Year” for his cultural programming excellence. In Pompano Beach, he will manage all the City’s cultural venues, oversee public art, and will activate The Crossroads initiative, a cultural trail uniting the Cultural Center, Bailey Contemporary Arts Center, and Ali Cultural Arts Center.
Tabing began his career in Chicago with the Department of Planning and Development, where he upgraded the theater district, and made The Loop the fastest growing residential neighborhood in the City. Later, he led the Chicago Architecture Biennial, which garnered global praise for its brilliant activations and programming throughout the metro area. In addition, Tabing spent time in Singapore, where he created the programming to drive traffic to the river district, and in Wichita, his placemaking initiatives revitalized the City through arts and culture.
“I am thrilled to be working with a city that has become a model for revitalization,” said Tabing. “It’s inspiring to see what has been accomplished so far and what the future vision entails. I look forward to initiating the type of arts and culture programming that will enhance the City’s brand identity and bring some sizzle to the venues.”
Tabing has already impressed with his first initiatives which include the commissioning of a mural inside Bailey Contemporary Arts Center (BaCA) to commemorate the centennial celebration of the historic building, and the selection of a young, dynamic, and diverse set of creatives for the Artists in Residence program at the venue.