Luis R. Cancel

Director

Luis R. Cancel is an artist, arts administrator, and distinguished public servant with a career that spans 30 years leading various not-for-profit and public agencies. He has served as the Head of Cultural Affairs for both New York City (1991-1994) and the City of San Francisco (2008-2011), appointed by Mayor David Dinkins and Mayor Gavin Newsom, respectively. He has served on several Boards including as a member of the Smithsonian Council and on the National Museum of the American Latino Commission, appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He was Director of The Bronx Museum of the Arts for 14 years and has an extensive cultural facility planning practice.

Cancel earned an M.P.A. from Harvard University in Public Administration; an M.A. from New York University in Museum Management/Arts Administration and a B.F.A. from the Pratt Institute, where he studied painting and printmaking. He is a proud native son of The South Bronx.