Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart Bio

Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart serves as the Director of Cultural Tourism and the Dallas Music Office at Visit Dallas, where she is dedicated to advancing the city’s vibrant arts and culture landscape. With decades of experience in arts leadership and administration, Kristina brings a unique blend of expertise that spans a professional dance career, arts advocacy, and strategic cultural development.

In her current role, Kristina acts as a key liaison for the Dallas arts community, driving the development of the Dallas Music Office and overseeing crucial initiatives like the TPID Event Incentive Fund grant. She is passionate about creating pathways for artists, cultural organizations, and institutions to flourish, leveraging her deep understanding of best practices in leadership to position Dallas as a premier cultural destination.

Kristina’s extensive arts journey has taken her across the globe—from a professional dance career in New York City to owning and running a dance school in Oslo, Norway, and co-founding a conservatory focused on arts entrepreneurship. She has over 20 years of experience teaching dance and entrepreneurship, coupled with significant administrative roles, including serving as dean of a conservatory and holding board positions for more than 12 years.

She holds a BFA in Dance from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, an MA in Arts Administration, and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. Kristina’s diverse background in the arts and academia continues to drive her mission to empower artists and enrich the cultural fabric of Dallas.