Special Post: Bright Day for Arts in America

Erin Harkey is the new CEO of Americans for the Arts

On behalf of myself and Kristina Newman-Scott, my amazing co-chair of Americans for the Arts CEO Search Committee, we are thrilled to share some incredible news:

Americans for the Arts (AFTA) has named Erin Harkey as its next CEO!

Erin Harkey will officially join the AFTA at the end of March, and we couldn’t be happier.

From over 130 candidates, Erin stood out as the leader AFTA needs right now—someone with the vision, curiosity, and ability to drive transformation across the sector. We are #TeamErin all the way!

Serving as co-chairs of this search over the past eight months has been an extraordinary experience. Working alongside our committee colleagues and the incredible team at Koya Partners, we’ve gained powerful new insights into the future of the arts and arts leadership in America. We believe some things will endure, some will need to change, and some will be transformational, offering unprecedented new opportunities for arts and creative industries leadership. In a forthcoming article, we’ll share more about what we've learned over the past year.

As a cultural sector veteran herself who has served as CEO of arts nonprofits and as a state arts agency leader, Kristina has noted that Erin’s vision and deep commitment to the arts position her well to strengthen advocacy and support for artists and organizations nationwide.

As a Culture Futurist, I closely track how behavioral and technological trends drive evolution at the intersection of culture, commerce, and media —shifts that make innovation essential. I do not doubt that Erin’s curiosity and experience in change management across the arts and regions of the U.S. bring the vitality and focus needed for the road ahead.

We’re grateful for the hard work of everyone involved, including our incredible committee members, AFTA staff and Board, and Koya Partners | Diversified Search Group team, whose perspectives enriched this process at every step. A special thank you to Susan (Suzy) Delvalle and Jamie Bennett for their leadership as interim co-CEOs while the search was underway.

This is a time of transition for our nation and the arts. AFTA is at a pivotal moment, and with Erin at the helm, we are ready to drive transformation and strengthen the arts as an even more powerful force for building vibrant, connected communities across America. We can’t wait for you all to meet and work with her!

Follow Americans for the Arts across social media channels for more updates on Erin’s transition and AFTA’s exciting future! #AFTA #ArtsLeadership #ArtsInnovation #CulturalVitality