Meet Christi
Christi Dortch brings more than three decades of experience at the intersection of performance, leadership, and innovation in the arts. She is known nationally for cultivating new work, developing artist-audience-community ecosystems, and forging strategies that elevate both mission and margin.
A seasoned arts executive, producer, and consultant, Christi Dortch brings more than 35 years of expertise across venue management, creative production, and strategic development. Her career spans leadership in some of the country’s most respected performing arts institutions, from multi-theatre campuses to immersive experience startups, guiding both established venues and emerging ventures through expansion, innovation, and reinvention.
Christi has held executive leadership roles across the nonprofit and commercial sectors, including serving as Executive Vice President of Programming at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. She has led teams delivering regional premieres, new musicals, and nationally broadcast specials at historic venues like War Memorial Auditorium and Westport Country Playhouse. Her strategic influence spans the full organizational spectrum -from frontline teams to C-suite leaders and Boards of Directors- making her a trusted leader in both day-to-day operations and long-range planning. Through her consultancy, Airlie Strategies, Christi has guided cultural institutions across the South and Midwest in designing long-term programming plans, building revenue infrastructure, and connecting artists with communities. Her work is deeply informed by experience in financial strategy, artist development, community engagement, product launches, retail brand collaborations, and operational systems from policies and procedures to performance metrics.
Her work is grounded in creative vision and operational precision, shaping transformative projects from immersive IP-based experiences, to multi-year strategies for historic theaters, museums, and multidisciplinary festivals. She has served as a TEDx speaker, conference producer, and trusted advisor for organizations such as the Jewel Theatre, Franklin Theatre, TN Presenters, and History & Culture Center of Williamson County.
Authenticity Drives Impact
Christi’s work is grounded in the belief that strong organizations are built through clarity, collaboration, and courage. She approaches each engagement with deep listening, thoughtful analysis, and a commitment to building pathways forward — even in the most complex environments.