Phoenix Art Museum Names Amada Cruz as Executive Director

From Kerry Lengel, writing for the Arizona Republic:

San Antonio Artpace executive director Amada Cruz was named Monday to guide the Phoenix Art Museum, a $9 million-a-year non-profit, which brings 200,000 visitors a year to Phoenix. Cruz, 53, who was born in Havana, has extensive experience in both the arts and non-profit worlds and starts work February 1. First on her to-do list, Cruz said, is a "crash course" on Phoenix's culture and history.

"I do know Arizona a little because my husband went to the University of Arizona," she said. "I've really come to love the Southwestern landscape."

Cruz was offered the job after a seven-month national search.

She will succeed (Jim) Ballinger, 65, who has led the museum for 32 years and who earlier this year announced his plans to retire.

Read the full article or view the official press release.