About Us
Melissa Skinner
has 20 years
experience marketing entertainment’s
brightest stars.
As the founder of Culture Spheres in 2018, she has worked with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Burna Boy, HARLEM WEEK, The August Wilson Center, Harlem Arts Alliance, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, The Mile-Long Opera, PEN World Voices Festival, and the Harlem Renaissance 100.
Prior to Culture Spheres, Ms. Skinner was the marketing lead for Harlem’s world-famous Apollo Theater (2014-2018).
Melissa Skinner backstage with August Wilson in 2002.
For the Apollo, Ms. Skinner served as the in-house promoter for D’Angelo’s 2014 comeback concert, DMX’s 2016 comeback concert, Yassin Bey’s (Mos Def) NYC Retirement Concerts sponsored by Tidal, Ella 100 with Andra Day, the World Premiere of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “Between the World & Me,” sponsored by Spotify, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings’ “The Daptone Super Soul Revue Live at the Apollo,” and Amateur Night at the Apollo sponsored by Coca-Cola. Additional highlights include the Academy Award-nominated documentary film The Apollo, the Emmy Award-winning television special “Bruno Mars 24K Magic Live at the Apollo,” three television specials with Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network, “Showtime at the Apollo” series reboot on FOX, “Amy Schumer Live at the Apollo” directed by Chris Rock, projects with Michelle Obama, Ledisi, Dapper Dan / GUCCI, and Dionne Warwick; the launch of The Apollo Comedy Club, the Apollo Walk of Fame inductions of Billie Holiday, Richard Pryor, Moms Mabley, and Louis Armstrong. the New York Premiere of WOW - Women of the World Festival, Breakin’ Convention Festival with Les Twins, Africa Now! Festival, and Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival.
Prior to the Apollo, Melissa was Marketing Director for Second Stage Theater with credits including Tony Award-winning The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A Soldier’s Play, The Little Dog Laughed, Birdie Blue, Crowns, Metamorphosis, and the launch of 2ST Uptown.
She has held additional marketing and sales direction roles with The Madison Square Garden Company, Harlem School of the Arts, Norfolk, Virginia’s Seven Venues, and The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. Highlights include events with Aretha Franklin, Jay-Z, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Jennifer Hudson, Anthony Mackie, Erykah Badu, Billy Porter, Justin Bieber, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Patti LaBelle, Kelly Clarkson, Reba McEntire, Arturo O'Farrill, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Rod Stewart, The Temptations, Ray Charles, The Rockettes, WICKED The Musical, Jon Batiste. Eric Benet, Brian McKnight, Matthew Whitaker, Gabrielle Garo, Gary US Bonds, BB King, and Natalie Cole.
Ms. Skinner holds a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Marketing from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce.
She prefers to stand behind the cameras. ❤️
