Laurel Toyofuku is a cultural leader with more than a decade of experience strengthening arts organizations through community-centered programming, strategic communications, and entrepreneurial revenue development. She is a consultant and strategic advisor to cultural and educational institutions, developing marketing and communications strategies, designing fundraising initiatives, and shaping public programming that aligns artistic vision with organizational goals. Her clients have included the American Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the International Teaching Artist Collaborative, and México Now Festival, among others. Laurel previously served as Head of Marketing & Community at Chelsea Factory, a pop-up performance and incubation center, launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, that supported more than 5,000 New York City–based artists. She built the organization’s marketing infrastructure and brand identity and helped cultivate partnerships with more than 200 cultural organizations. She also served on the Steering Committee for West Side Fest, an annual festival uniting 20+ institutions along Manhattan’s west side. Before Chelsea Factory, Laurel guided business development and global engagement at Lincoln Center, expanding partnerships with cultural and educational organizations, government agencies, and corporate entities across North America, Asia, and Latin America. She managed the Lincoln Center Cultural Innovation Fund, the institution’s first grantmaking program, created in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation. Laurel is also a freelance writer and member of the Greenwich Village Chamber Singers. She holds a B.A. in Visual & Media Studies and Music from Duke University, graduating magna cum laude.
