As Co-Chairs of the Americans for the Arts (AFTA) CEO search, we are energized and honored to lead this evolutionary journey. Our experiences as artist executives within America’s creative economy have given us a deep understanding of its opportunities and challenges. This perspective equips us with thoughtful questions and valuable insights, not rigid assumptions. The search for AFTA’s leader is a journey of discovery. We believe that discovery is a cultural achievement, arising from diverse groups working together.
We grasp the profound responsibility and thrilling potential of finding a transformational leader who will shape the future of how AFTA shows up to collaborate in sustaining and expanding America’s arts and creative industries. Our unwavering commitment is to identify a visionary leader who embodies diversity of thought, creativity, curiosity, and collective action.
We are eager to engage with stakeholders across the arts and creative industries to ensure our selection process is thorough, transparent, and attuned to the organization’s dynamic needs and aspirations today and into the years ahead.
Together, we anticipate ushering in a bold era of innovation, growth, and renewed impact for Americans for the Arts’ core pillars: advocacy, research, convening, and communications.
As Chairman of the Board of Americans for the Arts, I am honored and privileged to announce the commencement of the search for a new CEO. This responsibility is significant, and the entire Board and I acknowledge the immense opportunity that lies ahead.
Our commitment to you—our constituents, members, and donors—is to do our due diligence to find our organization’s next leader. We seek one who is confident of the arts’ role on the national stage, committed to advancing our mission, vision, and values, and dedicated to ensuring equitable access to the arts across our nation.
I pledge to you a thorough search that will find the right CEO to lead AFTA through this transformational time and into the future we all aspire to reach.
The CEO Search Committee is tasked with identifying and recommending qualified candidates for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position of Americans for the Arts. The committee will ensure a thorough, equitable and fair selection process to find a candidate who aligns with the organization’s values, vision, and strategic objectives. This information can be found in the CEO position profile.
Committee Composition
The CEO Search Committee includes members of the Board of Directors and external advisors selected for their ability to provide objective, domain-specific insights. The committee members possess expertise in:
Arts ecosystems development,
Arts management,
Local/state/regional/national arts policy,
Inclusion-based leadership,
Emerging innovation/technology trends impacting the future of the creative economy,
Emerging topics at the intersection of arts, science, and business,
Nonprofit, private, and public sector arts and creative industries developments, and
Strategies that impact artists’ lives, livelihoods, and growth opportunities.
The interim co-CEOs will be invited to be nonvoting observers at select committee meetings, advising the committee on opportunities for elevating Americans for the Arts staff voices and expertise into discussions and deliberations.
Committee Responsibilities
Develop a comprehensive job description and candidate profile based on input from key stakeholders and the organization’s emerging strategic goals.
Consult with the interim co-CEOs to ensure the integration of their operational insights, challenges, and opportunities into search committee planning.
Conduct a thorough search to identify potential candidates, utilizing internal and external networks, focus groups, and town halls.
Conduct initial interviews with selected candidates to assess their qualifications, experience, and alignment with identified priority areas.
Assist in negotiating the terms of employment with the selected candidate, including salary, benefits, and start date.
Provide regular updates to the Board of Directors on the progress of the search and any significant developments.
Maintain confidentiality throughout the search process, ensuring all candidate information is handled with the utmost discretion.
Search Committee Members
Phase 1 June – July 2024: Prepare for search.
Phase 2 August – October 2024: Candidate materials accepted.
Phase 3 October – November 2024: Candidate evaluation and selection.
Phase 4 December 2024 – January 2025: Final negotiations.
Search Partner
Americans for the Arts will be working with Koya Partners | Diversified Search Group on this search.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
We recognize that a diverse candidate pool is essential for cultivating a vibrant and dynamic community. Arts and creative industries depend on a robust exchange of ideas and broad viewpoints to drive innovative solutions. At the core of our search is the unwavering belief that diversity of all kinds enriches every aspect of our work.
Americans for the Arts Strategic Realignment Plan underscores our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that values the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents of individuals from all backgrounds. This commitment is not just a reflection of our values, but a strategic imperative that drives innovation, creativity, and excellence.
Questions | Comments | Nominations
We welcome recommendations and nominations of potential candidates and/or sources of candidates. To make recommendations, please email the Koya team directly at aftaceo@koyapartners.com.
If you are interested in being considered for the role, please email a resume and cover letter to aftaceo@koyapartners.com.
We encourage the submission of materials by September 15, 2024.
This is a confidential search process. All submissions of interest will be treated confidentially and will not be shared or discussed outside of the Search Committee.
Monthly Co-Chairs Updates
September 2024
SEPTEMBER 2024 CO-CHAIR UPDATE
Americans for the Art Search Committee – Chief Executive Officer
As Co-Chairs of the Search Committee, we are pleased to provide an update on the search process for the next Chief Executive Officer of Americans for the Arts (AFTA). Over the past several months, we have engaged in a thorough process to identify the qualities, skills, and characteristics required for this critical leadership role.
As part of this process, we worked closely with our search firm, Koya Partners, in conducting extensive “Constituent Conversations,” soliciting input from a broad range of stakeholders, including staff, board members, committee members, Local Arts Agencies (LAA) representatives, and other key voices within our community. These discussions were invaluable in shaping the Position Profile, which will serve as the foundation for our recruitment efforts.
The Position Profile reflects the key qualities and competencies needed to guide AFTA forward. These include leadership experience, a grounding in arts-related areas, an understanding of the diverse needs of local, state, regional, and national arts organizations, and a vision for advancing equity and innovation across the arts and creative sectors during periods of political tension, technological transformation, and cultural change.
A central part of our commitment throughout this search process is ensuring fairness, inclusivity, and diversity in evaluating candidates. Our process includes checkpoints that allow us to identify and address potential issues related to bias and inclusiveness at every stage. In addition, Koya offers counsel on best practices to decrease bias, bringing intentionality and research-based tools to the process. As we move forward, we are committed to having thoughtful and holistic discussions regarding the diversity of the candidate pool—ensuring that our considerations extend beyond race and gender to include a broad array of perspectives and experiences that could enrich AFTA’s leadership.
We have received an enthusiastic response since launching the search during the week of August 19th. The search was promoted through AFTA’s social media channels, newsletter, and other networks to ensure we reach a broad and diverse pool of candidates.
We have received approximately 90 expressions of interest from across the country. The geographic distribution of candidates includes:
Koya Partners is working with the search committee to carefully vet each candidate through resume reviews, phone conversations, or initial Zoom interviews. The Search Committee has been meeting to begin its initial review process and discuss the evolving candidate pool, which is expected to diversify further and grow over the coming weeks as we continue to make progress in identifying the strongest potential pool of leaders for this role.
In the coming weeks, we will invite an initial group of candidates to participate in first and second-round interviews, ensuring a thorough and thoughtful selection process. We are committed to finding a leader to sustain AFTA’s legacy and elevate its impact in the years ahead.
We look forward to sharing further updates as the search progresses and thank all those who have contributed their insights and expertise to this important process.
Kristina Newman-Scott & Theo Edmond
Co-Chairs, Chief Executive Officer Search Committee
Americans for the Arts
