Executive Director of Arts & Culture

Berkeley Search Consultants•San Francisco, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Mayor Daniel Lurie seeks an Executive Director of Arts and Culture to lead San Francisco’s citywide arts and cultural strategy. The Executive Director will ensure that the arts remain a cornerstone of San Francisco’s identity, civic life, and economic vitality. The Executive Director will serve as the Mayor’s principal advisor on policies that advance San Francisco’s creative economy, cultural equity, and public arts programming. From galleries and museums to theaters, venues and street festivals, San Francisco’s arts and culture ecosystem unites us, strengthens our local economy, and helps shape our collective identity. The City aims to better support San Francisco’s arts and culture ecosystem through a more unified approach to arts and culture administration. To that end, the mayor has announced his intent to unify the work currently residing within the San Francisco Arts Commission, Grants for the Arts, and the Film Commission under a new, single organization that aligns civic design review, community investments, cultural policy, film production, galleries, grantmaking (including operating grants), public art, and allocation of city resources to foster a thriving and inclusive creative ecosystem. The Executive Director will be the head of this new organization, guiding initiatives that create opportunity for artists, effectively steward cultural spaces, and expand public access to the arts. The role requires close coordination with City departments, community partners, and the private sector to elevate San Francisco as a global hub for artistic innovation and cultural expression. The position will play a key leadership role in navigating governance structures, commissions, and public accountability processes associated with arts and culture. As a senior leadership role, the Executive Director of Arts and Culture will represent the City of San Francisco in high-level policy discussions, funding decisions, and cross-agency collaborations. The position demands vision, diplomacy, and deep knowledge of the cultural landscape. Decisions made in this role will shape how the City invests in creativity, tells its collective story, and sustains a vibrant arts community for generations to come.

Requirements

7 years of full-time relevant experience in arts administration, cultural policy, creative industry leadership, or nonprofit and public-sector management
5 years of senior leadership experience overseeing strategic initiatives, managing staff, and shaping organizational priorities
Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in arts administration, public policy, business, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

Possession of a graduate degree (master’s degree or higher) from an accredited college or university, preferably in arts administration, public policy, business, public administration, or a related field.
Demonstrated success in leading complex arts, culture, or creative economy initiatives across multiple organizations, agencies, or sectors.
Knowledge of San Francisco’s cultural ecosystem, including its public art programs, arts nonprofits, philanthropic institutions, and creative industries.
Experience managing public funding programs or grantmaking processes that support artists, cultural organizations, or community-based arts initiatives.
Proven ability to engage diverse communities, balancing artistic innovation with cultural equity and neighborhood representation.
Experience working directly with elected officials, municipal departments, or public commissions to advance arts and cultural policy.
Knowledge of cultural programming, public art management, arts funding and grantmaking, and the role of arts in economic and community development.
Ability to coordinate closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including City departments, arts organizations, philanthropic partners, and community leaders, to advance complex cultural initiatives.
Experience building and leading multidisciplinary teams and managing programs in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
Ability to navigate complex political and organizational contexts with discretion, tact, and professionalism.
Experience leading change management strategies that align people, processes, and systems with organizational goals.
Strong strategic thinking, policy development, and project management skills, with the ability to anticipate challenges and design effective solutions.
Skilled spokesperson able to represent the Mayor’s Office publicly, communicate effectively with diverse audiences, and engage with the arts and cultural community.
Deep commitment to equity, cultural preservation, and ensuring that San Francisco’s arts ecosystem reflects and uplifts the City’s diversity.
Strong understanding of Mayor Lurie’s priorities and the critical role of arts and culture in fostering community identity, social connection, and economic vitality.

Responsibilities

Lead the City’s strategy and long-term planning for arts and culture, advancing policies and programs that strengthen San Francisco’s creative ecosystem and promote cultural equity.
Oversee a new organization that unifies and aligns the work of the San Francisco Arts Commission, Grants for the Arts, and the Film Commission to ensure coordination, accountability, and shared priorities.
Serve as the Mayor’s Office principal liaison to the arts community, cultural organizations, philanthropic partners, and creative industry stakeholders.
Champion the integration of arts and culture into broader City priorities, including housing, economic development, tourism, and neighborhood revitalization.
Oversee City investments in arts funding, public art projects, and cultural infrastructure, ensuring transparency, equity, and measurable community benefit in alignment with City policies and governance requirements.
Develop and implement strategies to steward and activate cultural spaces, create opportunity for working artists, and attract creative enterprises to San Francisco.
Collaborate with City departments and external partners to advance film production, cultural events, and public programming that showcase the diversity of San Francisco.
Represent the Mayor’s Office in high-level policy discussions, commission meetings, and public forums related to the arts and creative economy.
Monitor program outcomes, assess impact, and provide data-driven recommendations to strengthen City arts investments.
Serve as a visible advocate for San Francisco’s creative community, ensuring that arts and culture remain central to the City’s identity, economy, and civic life.