Staff Directory

In January of 2009 Veletta Forsythe Lill accepted a newly created position - Executive Director of the Dallas Arts District at Downtown Dallas, Inc. - with the mission “dedicated to stimulating the economic and cultural life of the region through the promotion of the district.”    In her role As Executive Director she coordinates the diverse organizations of the arts-centric neighborhood in joint operational planning and marketing efforts – enhancing, highlighting and showcasing the internationally recognized district.

Previously Ms. Lill served 8 years on the Dallas City Council (1997-2005) where she chaired the council’s Arts, Education and Libraries Committee and the city’s Comprehensive Plan Committee.  Her support of arts infrastructure led to a number of successful initiatives from the expansion of the boundaries of the city’s Arts District to the creation of a Cultural Facilities Master Plan.   During her tenure, several new municipally owned cultural facilities opened to wide acclaim, including the Ricardo Legorretta designed Latino Cultural Center.  In addition, voters approved over $100 million in municipal bond support for libraries and cultural facilities, including the seed investment for the AT&T Performing Arts Center.  Her advocacy work extended also to privately funded facilities, including the opening of the Nasher Sculpture Center.

While she has been an advocate for the creation of new and revitalized cultural facilities, both public and private, she has also championed programming efforts.   During Ms. Lill’s tenure as Chairwoman, the city partnered with the Dallas Independent School District to create ArtsPartners, a nationally recognized arts-in-education program for elementary school children.      As a former Mayoral appointee to the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau board Ms. Lill led efforts to promote cultural tourism and film production in the city.    

She moved to Dallas in 1985, and soon after began her career with mutual funds giant, Fidelity Investments.  In addition to her work with Fidelity, the city and the arts, she has served on numerous community and civic boards. Currently, she serves on the boards of the Parkland Foundation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau.   She has been honored with a number of awards in the arts including TITAS’ Tom Adams Award of Appreciation, the Dallas Contemporary’s Legends Award and the Dance Council of North Texas’ Service to Dance Award.   In April 2006, her work on behalf of the Arts District, urban planning and historic preservation led to her acceptance of the American Planning Association’s Distinguished Leadership Award for an Elected Official.

She holds both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Community Health from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.