John Orr is the Executive Director of Art-Reach in Philadelphia. Under his leadership, Art-Reach has experienced unprecedented growth in terms of programmatic impact and revenue. During his tenure, Art-Reach has been recognized with the PNC Arts Alive Award for Arts Innovation in Honor of Peggy Amsterdam; Arts and Culture Award from the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations; Philebrity Nonprofit of the Year Award, the Impact100 Philadelphia Award, and the Designing Leadership Award.
In 2018, Orr was appointed by the Mayor of Philadelphia to serve on the Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities. Additionally, Orr was one of 100 people in the country identified by TIAA as a Difference Maker 100 in their 2018 national competition. Other national recognition includes the Ovation Stand for the Arts Award (2019), and the Leadership Exchange for Art and Disability Community Asset Award (2019).
Previously, Orr worked with the Franklin Institute, Academy of Natural Sciences, Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania, Fleisher Art Memorial, and the Science History Institute. Orr is a past-President and former board member of the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia.
A Philadelphia native, Orr is committed to making his city one of the most accessible arts cities in the country.
