Meet Daniel Dennert | Curator, Arts Advocate, and Creative Leader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniel Dennert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniel, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
The lock screen of my phone often displays one of my favorite quotes. It helps me focus on what truly matters—whether at the end of a day, a project, or even a lifetime. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived—this is to have succeeded.” This feels especially relevant as I reflect on my work managing arts initiatives in public spaces, particularly at San Diego International Airport.

I think about the people I am accountable to—not just in terms of direct organizational leadership, but also the 25 million travelers who pass through the airport each year and the broader San Diego arts community. Some work exists in areas a particular passenger may never encounter. A concert may only be witnessed by a few hundred people. But as I serve these audiences, I ask myself: Did someone wear an unexpected smile, find a moment of stillness, let go of a burden, or learn something new today? And, are there more opportunities for others to create because of what I do? If the answer includes even one person, I believe that is the start of success.

I love this quote for another reason: as creatives, we all experience moments of doubt, wondering if we’re up for the task ahead. In those moments, I remind myself of the artists I’ve worked with. Many have told me they felt their creative practice was strengthened or their work became easier through our collaboration. This quote also offers a version of success that isn’t just about results, but about the intention and approach we bring to the process. Especially today, it feels important to emphasize that meaningful, long-term impact comes from building trust and bringing people along in a shared vision. So for me, there is great validation in knowing that collaborators have felt able to relax and focus on making their best work because they knew they had me on their side—honestly, that means everything to me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m an Oceanside, California native who was fortunate enough to start a career in theater after studying it in college. I arrived at Berea College, a small but mighty liberal arts school in Kentucky, with my relatively narrow view of what theater looked like (proscenium musicals, anyone?) and big visions of being a performer. But as I encountered different staging techniques, stage configurations, styles, and artistic goals, it opened my eyes to how much more there was to explore in the world of storytelling.

What excited me most about theater was always the development process, and that remains true today. I preferred rehearsals to performances. Rehearsals are where the real fun happens—you get to play, try new things, and refine ideas. I learned that I’m good at hearing someone’s vision and building the structure that allows it to flourish. I’m always asking, What does that look like? Testing a version of an idea often helps move it from abstract to tangible reality.

Because I was skilled at creating systems, I stepped into freelance and resident management roles, working with evolving projects where structure had to be built from the ground up. I stage-managed, organized new work festivals, and explored various creative capacities. I kept gravitating toward opportunities that weren’t just about art criticism but collaboration. I respond to art in a way that pulls me into the creative process. That process can be vulnerable, requiring deep trust. When I partner with artists, it’s not just about executing tasks—it’s an ongoing dialogue where we continually refine the vision to create something meaningful.

Now, I serve as the Curator and Arts Program Manager for San Diego International Airport, collaborating with visual and performing artists to create new work for a unique audience. The airport is not a traditional arts venue and has quite a few quirks—people are moving quickly, and safety and security add logistical challenges. Encouraging meaningful engagement in this environment requires understanding how people will genuinely respond. I work with artists to emphasize elements that draw attention based on my daily experience of the space. If something isn’t working as expected, we adjust together.

I am often asked “are you a maker?” I usually respond no. I don’t have a visual art practice, and I seldom am the lead creator on performance projects anymore. But as I think more about it, I am a maker of structure to define opportunities and empower my collaborators to do high-caliber work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is such a tough question! When friends visit, I tailor the itinerary to their interests. I love highlighting the strong neighborhood identities and cultures that make San Diego unique—it also gives me a chance to revisit places I haven’t explored in a while.

I usually offer a bit of a history tour, sharing fun facts like how streets named after trees, birds, or authors are organized A to Z (a detail I was oblivious to for over a year!). I talk about San Diego’s industries and development, but most importantly, I introduce visitors to the people who make this city special.

On a recent visit, a friend and I did everything from exploring Balboa Park to spending a day in Tijuana, experiencing Playas and the border fence—a powerful moment for someone seeing it for the first time. We had lunch, shared wine by a pool, and I arranged for them to meet local artists and friends for happy hour.

For me, the best visits aren’t just about places; they’re about people. I want my guests to meet the individuals I care about—whether that’s friends from work or the creative community. Since I’m always involved in something artistic, visitors often end up at an exhibition opening, a theater performance, or even on a hike—because that’s just my natural rhythm. Lately, I’ve been catching shows at Lou Lou’s in the beautifully renovated Lafayette Hotel. At the end of the day, the best experiences come from sharing meaningful moments with great people in places that matter.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many… can I name three? I need to call out Anna Deavere Smith. I was introduced to her work in the Verbatim theater genre, but what has stuck with me most is her book “Letters to a Young Artist.” It’s a collection of letters from an established artist to a fictional young artist, and I have read it every time I’ve started a new job. I never fail to learn something new.

Jennifer Kelly played a huge role in my professional development when she took a chance on me and gave me my first job in aviation. She hired me part-time at Blue Grass Airport while I was freelancing various art projects. Jennifer encouraged my insatiable curiosity to learn or try something differently than it had always been done. But most importantly, she taught me what it meant to center people in decision making. Even when that meant doing things that were harder or seemed inconvenient for the business, but right for your people, it ultimately brought everyone along and made them want to keep contributing. It creates the kind of nurturing culture and environment that I want to live and work in.

Katie Norman, my colleague when I first joined San Diego International Airport, was the most generous in her assumptions of my intentions and helped me learn innumerable technical and industry standards related to visual art. Without her, I would have hit far more bumps on the runway.

Instagram: danieldennert

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/danieldennert