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Emerging Leader Council: Member Bios

Emily Spruill
Director, Office of Cultural Affairs
City of Virginia Beach
201 Market St., 2nd Floor
Virginia Beach, VA 23507, Virginia 23507
T 757-385-0226
E-mail: elspruil@vbgov.com

Emily Spruill

Emily Spruill is the Director of Cultural Affairs for the City of Virginia Beach. Since its conception in 2001, Emily has led one of city’s largest and most visible capital projects, the $46.7 million Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, which opened in November 2007. She oversaw the project’s development and construction, which included extensive public participation with citizens and users. In her dual role as executive director of the Sandler Center’s nonprofit foundation, they exceeded their capital campaign fundraising goal of $12.5 million and have raised an additional $3 million endowment to create permanent funding for educational programs. Emily is the city’s first Cultural Affairs Director and the youngest office director in Virginia Beach municipal government. As chief arts representative, she works to propel the community’s arts organizations toward greater artistic growth and broader support. She administers the city’s annual grants to arts organizations, spearheads the public art program, and oversees the operation of the Sandler Center. Emily earned an art history degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and serves on the Executive Committee of the United Way of Hampton Roads’ Young Leaders Society. She has recently been named one of Hampton Roads' Top 40 under 40 by Inside Business.