Muny to handle admin functions for Jazz St. Louis

The performing arts sector in St. Louis has seen two major institutions agree to share administrative resources. The Muny and Jazz St. Louis announced on Thursday that they are entering a shared services partnership. Under the agreement, the Muny will take over specific business functions currently handled by the jazz organization.

Kwofe Coleman, president and CEO of the Muny, described the arrangement as a way to leverage existing capacity. "We're grateful and blessed with the capacity we have, and with just a little increase or a little tweak, we're able to support a lot of the administrative or business functions that really help Jazz St. Louis realize a little bit of savings in their expenses," Coleman said.

The Muny operates with an annual budget exceeding $33 million. The outdoor theater in Forest Park recently completed a $100 million capital campaign that launched in 2018 to mark its centennial. In contrast, Jazz St. Louis has faced financial pressure in recent years. Tax documents show the Grand Center-based organization ran a budget deficit of $382,176 as of March 2025.

Leadership at Jazz St. Louis reduced staff at the end of the previous season in response to the financial shortfall. Victor Goines, who served as CEO from 2022 until February, has left the organization. Adaron "Pops" Jackson and Cynthia Danley now serve as co-directors.

The partnership does not constitute a merger. Both entities will retain independent governance structures. The Muny will assign staff to assist with marketing, finance, fundraising, and production. A member of the Muny's fundraising team has already transitioned to a role at Jazz St. Louis. Coleman clarified that no individual will solicit donations for both organizations at the same time.

Coleman, who also sits on the board of Jazz St. Louis, intends for this model to serve as a precedent for other regional groups. "We’re here for the long haul. This is not just a get-it-back-on-its-feet [situation] and then walk away. This is a model that I believe really serves. So we’re together. We’re cousins now," he said.

Jazz St. Louis was established in 1995 under the name Jazz at the Bistro. An $8 million fundraising campaign supported a renovation in 2014 that expanded the space to accommodate educational programming. The venue maintains a strong reputation for acoustic quality and regularly books prominent national and local jazz artists.

The organization began its 2026-27 season this week with performances by Cyrus Chestnut. The partnership aims to stabilize the jazz venue's operations while allowing it to continue presenting high-profile concerts.

Goines' tenure included several public disputes with the board and artists. In 2023, the Riverfront Times reported that Goines objected to paying musicians for a tribute to women in jazz and opposed sexual harassment training. Artist Cbabi Bayoc stated that the board rejected a fundraising design featuring Keyon Harrold raising a fist, and that Goines did not support the artist. Goines acknowledged the request for a different design in a statement but said he did not intend to disrespect Bayoc's work. He currently works at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts.