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Dear Arts Action Fund Members,
I wanted to share an important announcement from our affiliated organization. The Americans for the Arts Board of Directors announced in a press release that effective June 1st, two highly established arts leaders Suzy Delvalle and Jamie Bennett (see short bios below) will serve as Interim Co-CEOs of Americans for the Arts while a national search for a permanent CEO is under way. We expect a permanent CEO will be installed sometime in 2025. Both Suzy and Jamie have extensive experience and proven track records of leadership in the arts & culture fields. They will report to the Americans for the Arts Board of Directors led by Chairman Edgar Smith, after a planned transition from current CEO Nolen Bivens today on May 31st.
The CEO Search/Selection Committee, led by Americans for the Arts board members Theo Edmonds and Kristina Newman-Scott, includes a diverse group of recognized leaders in the national arts & culture sector. Koya Leadership Partners, based in Chicago, Illinois, has been engaged to conduct the national search, which is projected to last between six to nine months, during which time Suzy and Jamie will not be eligible as candidates for the permanent role.
The Americans for the Arts Board of Directors expressed to Koya Leadership Partners its desire that the new CEO of Americans for the Arts lead the organization in the service to the arts & cultural communities as guided by the recent Strategic Realignment Process (SRP) conducted in partnership with the field. Equitable advocacy, thought leadership, cutting edge research, communications, and convenings were the key outcomes of the SRP, and are the foundation on which we expect our next leader to build upon and work towards during their tenure. For nominations or submissions of AFTA CEO candidacy, please contact Koya Leadership Partners: Ann McCarthy, Managing Director at [email protected]
We are deeply grateful for your support of Americans for the Arts and the Arts Action Fund. I look forward to updating you on this process as the search continues. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Nina Ozlu Tunceli
Executive Director
Americans for the Arts Action Fund
ABOUT SUZY DELVALLE
Suzy is a seasoned advisor who has leveraged her expertise to drive strategic growth and stability in arts organizations, most recently through interim leadership roles at A Blade of Grass, Artadia, Socrates Sculpture Park, and United States Artists. With a proven track record of success, she previously led Creative Capital and was one of the architects of Artists Relief, a $25 million initiative that provided emergency support to artists during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was the founding Executive Director of The Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling following tenures at El Museo del Barrio and American Composers Orchestra.
ABOUT JAMIE BENNETT
Jamie has been providing strategic advice through a partnership with Lord Cultural Resources to clients that include the American Museum of Natural History, the Barr Foundation, the BIG We Foundation, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the MacArthur Foundation, PolicyLink, Starfish Accelerator, and Walk with Amal. Previously he ran ArtPlace America and worked at the National Endowment for the Arts as a political appointee in President Obama’s administration and at the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs during Mayor Bloomberg’s administration.