Erica Sutherlin is a multi-hyphenate executive, filmmaker, writer, and theatrical director who serves as the Artistic Executive Director of The Studio@620. A native of St. Louis, MO, she holds a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Erica’s leadership and impact have been recognized with the Arts, Culture & Heritage Award from the Gathering of Women, the First Lady in African American History award, the Tampa Bay Arts Passport Beacon Award, Best of the Bay and a Creative Pinellas Individual Artist Recovery Grant. Her academic and artistic excellence is further marked by the Shiram Family Fellowship and the Jean & Ruth Negulesco Endowment Fellowship.
As an award-winning filmmaker and director, Erica made her directorial debut with the Lifetime Network hit Kirk Franklin’s A Gospel Christmas. Her portfolio includes the feature Stratosphere, the short film ATONE, and writing credits for Voodoo Macbeth through Warner Brothers and USC. Over a career spanning more than 20 years, she has directed acclaimed productions such as Cadillac Crew, Ragtime: The Musical in the Park and The Color Purple. Her creative reach extends into the spirits industry as an entrepreneur and the founder of Sinuous Bourbon, an award-winning brand designed to celebrate the historical momentum of women. She also operates a creative development and consulting company, leveraging her vast industry expertise.
Erica’s dedication to mentorship and education is a cornerstone of her career. She served as an arts educator for fifteen years teaching K-12th grade, which included developing intensive conservatory curriculum and serving as Recruitment Coordinator at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts. Her excellence in the classroom has been honored with the National High School Educator of Distinction Award and the Director’s Citation Award. Currently, she shares her expertise as a professor at the University of South Florida. Erica’s deep commitment to the community is reflected in her extensive board and committee service, including her roles as Committee Chair of the City of Saint Petersburg Arts Advisory Committee, City of Saint Petersburg Public Arts Sub-committee, her service on the ACE Committee (Arts for a Complete Education), and her former seats on the Performing Arts Task Force, St. Petersburg City Theatre Board of Directors and the Kraf-Custer Educators’ Board of Trustees.
Erica holds a Certificate in Leadership from the National Leadership Center and a Nonprofit Board Certification. She has been selected for prestigious programs including Leadership St. Pete class of 2024, the Blackhouse Foundation Sundance Fellowship, Lifetime Network’s Broader Focus, the Multicultural Leadership Team for Pinellas County Schools, and Women in Film, Los Angeles. As a published poet and essayist, she has contributed to works such as Building Womanist Coalitions and Hooked on the Art of Love. Whether in the classroom, the boardroom, or the director’s chair, Erica continues to illuminate untold stories and drive excellence across disciplines.