Surdna Foundation Hires F. Javier Torres as Program Director of Thriving Cultures Program

Surdna Foundation announced the hiring of F. Javier Torres as program director of the Thriving Cultures program, where he will lead a $9 million grantmaking portfolio, sharpen existing strategies, develop initiatives, and deepen institutional knowledge to ensure maximum impact of the foundation’s dollars.

Torres, a Grantmakers in the Arts’ board member, said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the dynamic Thriving Cultures team and working to advance Surdna’s goal of building just and equitable communities.” Working with senior program leadership across the organization, Torres will seek out opportunities to connect the Thriving Cultures program to areas of focus within the foundation’s Sustainable Environments and Strong Local Economies programs.

Since 2014, Torres has served as the director of National Grantmaking at ArtPlace America. Under his leadership, the National Creative Placemaking Fund at ArtPlace supported 279 creative placemaking projects totaling $86.4 million across 46 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

“Javier brings a wealth of experience to his new role as director of Thriving Cultures, with deep experience as a creative placemaking field builder, grantmaker, on-the-ground arts manager, and a personal and professional commitment to social justice,” said Phillip Henderson, president of Surdna Foundation.

Read Surdna Foundation's full announcement.

Image courtesy: Surdna Foundation