Keynote Speaker
President Emerita Brooklyn Academy of MusicAuthor of the forthcoming book, “BAM – And then it Hit Me” to be published by Powerhouse Books
Karen is a Board member and Senior Advisor to the Onassis Foundation for the Public Benefit. She is also the Nasher Haemisegger Fellow at SMU DataArts located at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and currently serves as a Director on the Board of the Trust of Governors Island and a Board member of the Jerome L. Greene Foundation.
Karen was an employee of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (“BAM”) for 36 years, serving as its President from 1999 until her retirement in 2015 when she was designated President Emerita.
From 2009 – 2010, she was selected by the New York State Assembly to represent Brooklyn on the State Board of Regents.
From 2015-2017, Karen served as the inaugural Senior Fellow in Residence at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Karen was awarded honorary degrees from St. Francis College, Long Island University and Pratt Institute and, in 2019, she received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Columbia University. She has also received several international honors including the King Olav Medal from Norway, the Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from France and the Commander of the Royal Order of the Polar Star from Sweden. During her tenure as President of BAM, the institution was awarded the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama.
In 2013, Karen was named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in New York by Crain’s New York Business. She was also honored as a member of the first Crain’s Hall of Fame in 2015.
Karen is the author of Successful Fundraising for Arts and Culture Organizations, currently in its 2nd edition. In 2021, her memoir of her years at BAM will be published by powerHouse Books.
Photo credit: Bob Klein
BAM… and Then it Hit Me
About the Book
Karen Brooks Hopkins’ memoir of her 36 years at BAM – The Brooklyn Academy of Music, America’s oldest performing arts center, is a wild ride! BAM… and Then it Hit Me is filled with stories and photographs of unlikely theatrical productions, entertaining and sometimes difficult celebrities, guidance
on fundraising and leadership, the glory of the arts and the evolution of Brooklyn, the coolest neighborhood on the planet.
ENTERTAINING AND INSPIRING: A page-turning read offering an exclusive look behind the scenes of the world-famous cultural center. Perfect for any lover of the performing arts, this book is filled with stories about artists and icons, such as Princess Diana, Peter Brook, Ingmar Bergman, Chuck Davis,
Philip Glass, Robert Wilson, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Pina Bausch, LL Cool J, John Turturro, Rufus Wainwright, Mark Morris, Bill T. Jones and Paul Simon among others.
AND at the same time, it is an inspiring and constructive read for any not-for-profit organization or your local arts center detailing key strategies for institutional success. The book offers hands-on practical advice on topics ranging from fundraising and leadership to how to best manage complex organizations.