CAC director to step down to take leadership role in Philly

Contemporary Arts Center Director Christina Vassallo will step down Jan. 2 after nearly three years to lead The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage in Philadelphia, one of the country’s most influential regional arts funders.

The move is a return home of sorts for Vassallo. But it also comes at a time when the CAC is carrying real momentum – and navigating a challenging period for arts organizations locally and nationally.

Vassallo joined the CAC in March 2023 and quickly set a new course for the 86-year-old institution. She guided the development of a new five-year strategic plan; oversaw special programs marking the 20th anniversary of the museum’s landmark Zaha Hadid-designed building in downtown; and expanded the CAC’s exhibitions with shows such as “A Permanent Nostalgia for Departure” and the traveling “Jayson Musson: His History of Art.”

Under her leadership, the museum mounted major solo exhibitions by Vivian Browne, Marcus Leslie Singleton and Sheida Solemani, and she helped advance upcoming shows by Cincinnati artists Gee Horton and Michael Stillion. She also partnered with the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland to launch “Ohio Now,” a statewide triennial highlighting artists working across Ohio.

Vassallo also was at the helm during difficult decisions, such as ending the museum’s longstanding free admission policy in April.

“It has been an honor to shepherd CAC and be part of Cincinnati’s vibrant artistic legacy,” Vassallo said, noting the partnerships with artists “from around the world” and the CAC’s commitment to creating “a more empathetic world through the creation and experience of all contemporary art forms.”

Why she’s leaving – and why this role fits

For Vassallo, the move is both a professional step forward and a return to a region where she has deep roots. She grew up in the New York–New Jersey area and has spent much of her career in the Northeast, including as executive director of The Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia from 2020 to early 2023. She also worked in New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut and eastern Pennsylvania – all essentially within the geographic orbit she is now rejoining.

In a statement, Vassallo articulated excitement to “help shape the next chapter of cultural investment in a city and region” she knows well.

Her new role at the Pew Center places her at the top of one of the nation’s most influential arts-specific grantmaking organizations. Supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts and operated with the Barnes Foundation, the center will distribute $8.6 million in 2025 for performances, exhibitions, films, public programs and initiatives aimed at strengthening Philadelphia’s cultural ecosystem.

Vassallo’s appointment is the result of a national search.

“Christina is a strategic leader with a proven track record of strengthening nonprofits; engaging stakeholders; managing complex partnerships; developing timely, impactful programs; and understanding Philadelphia’s cultural community,” said Donna Frisby-Greenwood, vice president at The Pew Charitable Trusts.

What Vassallo’s departure means for CAC

Vassallo’s exit leaves the CAC at a pivotal moment. Much of the institution’s current momentum, including its expanded curatorial partnerships and deepened regional collaborations, comes from Vassallo’s guidance. The next director will inherit the vision she shaped and take responsibility for carrying it forward.

Board presidents Emily Kokenge and Rick Michelman credited Vassallo with strengthening the museum’s finances, broadening its artistic reach and elevating its profile during a period of transition.

Now, there focus is on finding a leader who can build on that progress.

The incoming director will advance the CAC’s five-year strategic road map, which positions the museum as the region’s premier contemporary arts venue through 2029. The plan outlines goals to expand programming for new and existing audiences, raise the CAC’s regional and national visibility, strengthen member and donor relationships, diversify the board and secure the museum’s long-term sustainability.

The CAC, like arts institutions nationwide, has faced mounting pressures in recent years. Earlier this year, the museum reinstated a $12 admission fee for visitors 18 and older – a step leaders described to WVXU as a proactive move to sustain programming and create a more stable financial model. The shift comes at a challenging time for arts organizations, as the CAC grapples with rising costs and the loss of some federal funding.

To maintain momentum during the transition, the board has hired Boston-based Museum Search & Reference to identify an interim director and lead the national search for Vassallo’s permanent successor. The board’s transition team will coordinate directly with staff until an interim director steps in.

Kokenge and Michelman said they are seeking someone who can guide the CAC “into its landmark 90th anniversary in 2029 and beyond.”