Savannah City Manager Jay Melder has appointed Christopher Audain as the new senior director of Cultural Resources in the Office of Community Services.

Cultural Resources plays a vital role in the success of the Community Services service center by allowing Savannah’s residents and visitors to enjoy a rich, varied cultural life through the arts, and Christopher will continue leading this effort.

 

“We are excited to welcome Chris to Savannah,” said Melder. “His proven leadership, national experience, and passion for Arts accessibility will be instrumental as we elevate Savannah’s cultural arts strategy, expand partnerships, and enhance the city’s creative identity.”

 

Christopher is an accomplished nonprofit public service leader with more than 20 years of experience in arts education, cultural programming, and community engagement, and he brings a strong record of strategic leadership in major cultural institutions. Prior to joining the City of Svannah, Chris resided in Michigan, where he served as the managing director of the University of Michigan Arts Initiative. At the University, he led a $20 million, five‑year effort to expand arts integration, interdisciplinary research, and community partnerships across the university and region.

 

Before moving to Michigan, Christopher lived in Chicago for over 13 years, working at multiple prominent nonprofit institutions, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago, and as the program officer at Alphawood Foundation Chicago, a private grantmaking foundation. While at Alphawood, he managed a portfolio of over 60 nonprofit organizations and collaborated on capacity building grants for community-based organizations. With extensive experience in grantmaking, Christopher has also served as panelist and juror for organizations across the country such as the National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Work Fund, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Arts Council of Indianapolis, and City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).

 

“The Arts has always been the place where I feel most at home, and I believe access to the Arts is paramount for a high quality of life,” said Christopher. “I am incredibly honored to join Team Savannah and support an already thriving arts and culture community while we continue to increase meaningful engagement in the Arts for all people in the region.”

 

Christopher holds a B.A. in political science from Kenyon College, and an M.A. in arts administration from Goucher College. He assumed his new role with the City of Savannah on August 31, 2026.