Raymond Bobgan

Executive Artistic Director, CEO, Cleveland Public Theatre

Education: UC-Irvine; University of Akron; Santa Barbara Community College

How I Approach My Day: As a leader, seek listening and align my intent to support Cleveland and the artist communities of Cleveland. I approach my artistic day with embodied creativity — seeing, imagining, listening and responding.

What Success Looks Like to Me: Amazing art making a real impact on people and on our democracy

Favorite Quote: “Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.” — Paradoxical Commandments, Kent M. Keith

If I Could Trade Places With Anyone: Great artists in a more popular media: Brit Marling? Beyonce? Edson Oda?

What Motivates Me Right Now: The amazing artists of CPT, especially Cleveland CORE Ensemble, Teatro Publico de Cleveland and Masrah Cleveland Al Arabi, and the staff of CPT

An Important Lesson I Learned: Culture is the hardest and most important thing to success — individually, organizationally and as a society.

A Cleveland Spot I Recommend: Karamu House