Jennifer Scripps. Photo courtesy of Downtown Dallas Inc.

Lakewood neighbor Jennifer Scripps, who leads the Office of Arts & Culture at the City of Dallas, is soon moving to a new role as president and CEO of Downtown Dallas Inc.

Sign up for our newsletter

* indicates required

Scripps, whose family lives blocks from White Rock Lake, is set to take over the organization in April. As of press time, the City Manager’s Office has not announced who will take over Scripps’ place at OAC in the interim.

“I could not be more honored and excited to lead an organization with a nearly 65-year history of success advocating for the heartbeat of our city,” Scripps said in a press release.

She has been the leader of Arts & Culture since 2016, and prior to that, she worked closely with the Perot Museum of Nature & Science to oversee construction and business planning.

Downtown Dallas Inc. is an organization with 100 employees that manages the Dallas Downtown Improvement District, which funds services and amenities that create and keep Downtown Dallas a clean, safe, mixed-use neighborhood. Downtown Dallas Inc. calls itself “the primary advocate, champion and steward for Downtown.”

Scripps said in a press release one of her first tasks will be to help make sure the 360 Plan — which offers strategies to advance urban mobility, construct complete neighborhoods and promote placemaking — evolves to stay relevant in future years.

As leader of Arts & Culture, Scripps oversees a budget of over $22 million, 19 cultural facilities and grant programs that support 200 arts organizations and artists. Scripps also played a key role in forming the 2018 Dallas Cultural Plan.

While Mike Rawlings was mayor, Scripps worked on initiatives including expanding Dallas Arts Week to Dallas Arts Month and securing a $10 million gift to create the Moody Fund for the Arts.

Scripps graduated from Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 1995.

She takes over the Downtown Dallas Inc. position from Chief Operating Officer Amy Tharp, who has been the interim president and CEO since late 2021. Kourtny Garrett left the organization as president and CEO in 2021.