OCTOBER 2024 CO-CHAIR UPDATE
Americans for the Art Search Committee – Chief Executive Officer
Dear AFTA Community,
As Co-Chairs of the Search Committee, we are pleased to share the latest progress on the search for the next Chief Executive Officer of Americans for the Arts (AFTA). Over the past month, we’ve been inspired by the remarkable engagement from stakeholders across all areas that AFTA serves, underscoring just how vital this leadership role is—not only for AFTA’s future but for the broader arts ecosystem in the U.S.
Since our last update, Koya Partners has diligently identified and engaged a diverse pool of candidates nationwide. We are excited to share that we have now received over 125 expressions of interest for this position, reflecting both the appeal of the opportunity and the depth of talent in the arts sector. Koya’s vetting process includes resume reviews, phone conversations, and Zoom interviews, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive evaluation of each candidate.
The geographic distribution of candidates remains diverse, which is vital for a national organization like AFTA:
As Co-Chairs, we are inspired and encouraged by the caliber of candidates and their diverse perspectives. The current pool has a wide range of leadership profiles, reflecting the depth and breadth of talent across our national arts ecosystem. We are grateful for the ongoing engagement and dedication of the AFTA community throughout this process. We regularly meet with Koya Partners to ensure every step is conducted with transparency, fairness, and intentionality. Our goal remains steadfast: to identify a leader who embodies AFTA’s mission and is prepared to lead the organization into its next chapter with vision and purpose.
Lessons Learned: The Evolving Nature of Arts Leadership
Through this process, we have learned valuable lessons about the evolving nature of arts leadership in America. We see a clear need for leaders who not only understand the arts ecosystem but also possess the vision, empathy, curiosity, and adaptability to navigate a rapidly changing cultural landscape. This moment requires leaders who can effectively bridge tradition and innovation while advancing equity and inclusion at all levels.
Once the process concludes and we begin onboarding the new CEO, we look forward to sharing more detailed reflections on these insights.
What’s Next
The coming weeks will be critical as we select candidates for the first round of interviews. After these initial discussions, we will work closely with Koya to identify those who will advance to the second round, expected in December. We are currently on track to identify a new CEO and begin onboarding by early 2025. We are committed to a thoughtful and supportive onboarding process to ensure that our new leader is set up for success from the start.
We sincerely thank each of you—board members, staff, local/state/regional arts agencies, and the broader arts and creative industries community—for your continued insights, support, and engagement. Your involvement strengthens our efforts and reinforces our commitment to finding the right leader for AFTA’s next chapter.
We look forward to sharing further updates as the process continues. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any additional thoughts or questions.
Warmest regards,
Kristina Newman-Scott & Theo Edmond
Co-Chairs, Chief Executive Officer Search Committee
Americans for the Arts
