Who we are
WHO WE ARE
OUR MISSION
PACE’s broad mission is to transform lives and enrich our community by presenting artistic, cultural, educational, and entertainment experiences of the highest quality to all within its reach.
OUR VISION
The Eastside is the home of innovative thinking and the new technologies that are changing the world. Drawing inspiration and expertise from our community, PACE will develop and launch a performing arts center as the first true Cultural Hub of the 21st Century’s “Experience Age”, and create the new model for the rest of the world to follow.
OUR HISTORY
Several years ago, a group of idealistic Eastside community leaders had a vision to build a conventional multi-purpose performing arts center for the Eastside. That vision has been updated recently to reflect the area’s remarkable population growth, emergence of industry-leading technology companies, and the burgeoning international community. We are seizing the potential and opportunity to realize the convergence of art, culture, and technology in an innovative new venue that breaks down barriers to widespread access and engagement with the arts.
LEADERSHIP
RAY CULLOM, CEO
Since his arrival to Bellevue in summer 2018, Ray has been the catalyst for PACE’s new vision: bringing together arts, culture, and technology to create a unique 21st century cultural arts hub to serve Eastside residents and their families for generations. He has an extensive history working on the development of new performing arts spaces, both commercial and not-for-profit, and on the programming of exciting arts and cultural events all over the world.
Ray’s work in the development of innovative performance spaces ranges from small Off-Broadway Theaters on 42nd Street in New York City, to the recently opened 650,000 sq. ft. Zorlu Center for the Performing Arts in Istanbul, Turkey, to a new 2000-seat theater designed specifically for Broadway productions located in Shanghai’s North Bund neighborhood. Most recently, as the Senior VP for International Projects and Development for Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment in New York City, Ray worked on innovative theatrical productions and new arts buildings throughout Europe and Asia in developing markets for the arts.
Earlier, Ray held positions in General Management and Production with several major touring Broadway musicals; served as Director of two major regional theaters, including the Tony Award® winning Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut; and has directed performing arts series programming for major arts organizations in the USA and internationally.
Ray holds an A.B. in Anthropology from the University of Chicago and lives in Clyde Hill with his wife Meryl, a distinguished arts education professional, and their 3 children. He was recognized as Not-for-Profit Businessman of the Year by the NYC/Queens Chamber of Commerce in 2013.
