2025 Power Players in Arts & Culture

Ellen Kodadek has served as executive and artistic director of Flushing Town Hall (FTH) since 2008, transforming it into a global arts hub in Queens. Under her leadership, FTH has expanded its arts council services, regranting over $430,000 to local artists and nonprofits. She launched signature programs, including the acclaimed Global Mashups series and monthly jazz jams. Passionate about cultural diversity, Ellen curates inclusive programming while preserving FTH’s historic landmark building for future generations.

If you could attend any event, show, or exhibit in the city this month, what would it be and why?
With so many incredible events happening around New York City, it’s hard to choose, but I do always love visiting the American Folk Art Museum. It’s a charming, intimate, and fascinating museum near Lincoln Center and the only museum in New York City dedicated to folk and self-taught artists. It’s a true gem.

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support arts and culture within the city?
Policymakers should ensure arts and culture funding is both equitably baselined and increased, as stability is key for organizations to do long-term planning. Artists and cultural institutions deserve support; they come through for New York on a daily basis and every time there is a crisis. New Yorkers can support by visiting museums, attending concerts, becoming members or volunteers, or by joining a board. Be curious and enjoy the city’s vibrant arts scene!

New York has historically been considered the culture capital of the world. How do you feel the city upholds this legacy in 2025?
I’m proud to live in a city with such an incredible array of arts and culture across all five boroughs. However, it’s disheartening to hear firsthand about the struggles artists face. Many global cities staunchly support their artists with new art funding, creative time, affordable living and work spaces, and professional development. All are crucial for both emerging and established artists and organizations. It’s inspiring, and a great deal can be learned and emulated.

Michael Lee is president of the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA). A native New Yorker with roots in Chinatown, he has held leadership roles at the New York Institute of Finance, Apex for Youth, and the Committee of 100. He holds degrees from NYU and the University of Pennsylvania and serves on the boards of the Chinese-American Planning Council, Central Queens Academy, and the Red Hook Initiative.

If you could attend any event, show, or exhibit in the city this month, what would it be and why?
This month, I’d attend Monstrous Beauty at The Met and Heaven & Earth: The Blue Maps of China at MOCA. The Met’s exhibit highlights how Chinese porcelain shaped American and European perceptions of Chinese cultural identity – luxury goods like china were once the lens through which the West imagined China. At MOCA, the Blue Maps reveal how 19th-century Chinese used terrestrial and celestial maps to define a national identity rooted in both the earth and the heavens.

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support arts and culture within the city?
Keep visiting and investing in these institutions – arts and culture are what make New York City the best place to live on earth. Every city has parks or shopping, but it’s our creative energy that sets us apart. I just attended my son’s school art show, and it reminded me: we don’t gather for test scores – we gather for arts and culture. These shared experiences bring people together and make us feel part of something bigger.

New York has historically been considered the culture capital of the world. How do you feel the city upholds this legacy in 2025?
In 2025, as the world feels more divided, New York remains a global beacon of cultural exchange. I heard a quote on NPR: telling stories you’re not supposed to makes others feel seen. That’s what New York does best – amplifying voices from all walks of life. We’re one of the most interesting cities on the planet, blending traditions into something uniquely ours. We are lucky to live where so many different cultures can come together.

Glenn D. Lowry is the sixth director of The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). He leads a staff of over 800 people and directs MoMA’s active program of exhibitions, collection development, and publications that invite people around the world to connect with the art of our time. He is a strong advocate of contemporary art and has lectured and written extensively in support of contemporary art and artists and the role of museums in society. 

Justine Ludwig is the executive director of Creative Time. She has curated projects with many artists including Pedro Reyes, Paola Pivi, and Pia Camil. Under her leadership, the public arts nonprofit commissioned Charles Gaines’ The American Manifest; Rashid Johnson’s Red Stage; and Jill Magid’s Tender, among others. Ludwig has an M.A. in global arts from Goldsmiths University of London and a B.A. in art with a concentration in art history from Colby College.

If you could attend any event, show, or exhibit in the city this month, what would it be and why?
I’m thrilled for Rashid Johnson and his monumental survey at The Guggenheim – a much-deserved celebration of him as not only a trailblazing creative force but also a longstanding and powerful supporter of boundary-pushing art. I’m also seeing Raven Chacon at the Academy of Arts and Letters before his show closes this summer. Concerned with sound, silence, and sonic environments, his work aligns wonderfully with our curatorial focus on Sonic Commons this year.

New York has historically been considered the culture capital of the world. How do you feel the city upholds this legacy in 2025?
At Creative Time, we push the boundaries of public art and bring bold, socially engaged works to the forefront of civic life, and have done so for more than fifty years. We are deeply connected to New York’s rich and diverse cultural history, staging ambitious art projects across the city, from landmarks and parks to abandoned buildings, the East River, and even up in the sky – reinforcing New York as a city where art is everywhere.

Erika Mallin currently serves as the executive director of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), where she directs a $160M annual grant budget supporting over 3,000 artists and arts and cultural organizations across the State. Appointed by the Governor in 2024 as the state’s highest-ranking arts official, she has already achieved significant impact, including securing a historic 10% budget increase and launching innovative initiatives for artists and arts and cultural institutions.

Anthony W. Marx is president of The New York Public Library, the nation’s largest library system, with over 90 locations including neighborhood libraries and research centers. Since joining in 2011, Marx has strengthened the Library’s role as an essential provider of educational opportunities for all. Under his leadership, the Library has expanded early literacy and after-school programs for children and teens, improved services for students, and become a national leader in bridging the digital divide.

If you could attend any event, show, or exhibit in the city this month, what would it be and why?
One of the current exhibitions on view at our flagship Stephen A. Schwartzman building, A Century of The New Yorker, is the must-see show of the season. It was interesting to see the strong link between The New York Public Library and The New Yorker – there’s a wall of magazine covers that include so many beautiful illustrations of our flagship building and our iconic lion sculptures, Patience and Fortitude. It’s free for all to visit.

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support arts and culture within the city?
Being vocal about the value that public libraries hold in our lives is critically important. When the city’s public library system faced massive budget cuts last year, everyday New Yorkers and elected officials came together to step up and push back – and our funding was restored. We are incredibly grateful for that support and this year are asking for a renewed investment in libraries that will strengthen our system for generations to come.

New York has historically been considered the culture capital of the world. How do you feel the city upholds this legacy in 2025?
A true cultural capital requires participation and engagement of its citizenry. Public libraries, including NYPL’s three research libraries, with their unparalleled collection of literary and artistic archives, inspire and enable people to take part in the creation of culture as well as be a witness to it.

Robb Menzi joined WCS in 2015 as its first EVP and COO and is serving through June 30, 2025 as its interim president and CEO. (Adam Falk begins as president and CEO on July 1, 2025). In his multiple leadership positions, Menzi helps to oversee a global conservation program in more than 50 countries and four zoos, including Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and Prospect Park Zoo, and the New York Aquarium in NYC.

If you could attend any event, show, or exhibit in the city this month, what would it be and why?
Dinosaur Safari, which has returned to the Bronx Zoo, features more than 60 life-size dinosaurs. Our guests at the Bronx Zoo love this exhibit and how it connects to our mission about the importance of wildlife conservation and preventing extinction of all wildlife.

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support arts and culture within the city?
Cultural institutions in New York City help make our city great, including stimulating the economy with jobs and tourism and providing a massive amount of educational experiences for children and families. Policymakers can ensure support of culture and the arts in NYC, and everyday New Yorkers can show their support by enjoying all that these organizations have to offer.

New York has historically been considered the culture capital of the world. How do you feel the city upholds this legacy in 2025?
New York City is indeed the culture capital of the world, and we are proud to be a part of that spirit and the city’s culture and arts community. The Bronx Zoo alone has been a part of the fabric of New York City for more than 125 years, providing a vital connection to nature and wildlife to New Yorkers and tourists of all ages.

Louise Mirrer joined The New York Historical as president and CEO in June 2004. Under her leadership, the institution has reinvigorated its commitment to greater public understanding of history and its relevance today, the support and encouragement of historical scholarship, and the education of young people. Mirrer holds a double Ph.D. from Stanford, a graduate diploma from Cambridge, and a B.A. magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania.

If you could attend any event, show, or exhibit in the city this month, what would it be and why?
I recently had the opportunity to see George Clooney playing Edward R. Murrow in “Good Night, and Good Luck.” It was a brilliant performance and its theme of journalists speaking truth to power is incredibly timely. The subject matter of the play dovetails with our upcoming exhibition, Blacklisted: An American Story, which explores the intersection of politics, art, and economics that shaped America’s Red Scare.

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support arts and culture within the city?
By understanding how important arts and culture are to every single one of us. Our museums, libraries, and cultural institutions enrich our lives, teaching us about the past and helping us to be creative. The more people who participate in the arts, the better our city will be.

New York has historically been considered the culture capital of the world. How do you feel the city upholds this legacy in 2025?
That legacy is alive and well, particularly as we gear up to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding next year. At The New York Historical, we have a full slate of exhibitions exploring a wide range of topics about what it means to be an American, and we’ll be opening our new Tang Wing for American democracy.

Ken Mitchell is executive director of the SI Zoo. Nestled on eight acres of parkland, the Zoo attracts 175,000 visitors and 40,000 schoolchildren per year. Under Ken’s leadership, the Zoo created transformative projects such as a new aquarium, carousel, and amur leopard exhibit. Ken served as a New York City councilman. He is a graduate of Wagner College and New York Law School and serves on the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission and NYC Tourism + Conventions.

If you could attend any event, show, or exhibit in the city this month, what would it be and why?
I would catch Colin Jost’s show at the St. George Theatre. Colin is a homegrown Staten Island success story. His work as a writer and performer has made him a superstar. The Theatre is a local success story, rescued from the wrecking ball by Rosemary Cappozalo and her daughters Doreen and Luanne. The theatre is restored, the shows are great, and local restaurants are successful. It’s a study on how investing in culture reaps results.

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support arts and culture within the city?
I recommend policymakers visit our venues when students are here for a class trip. See the excitement in their faces and the active learning that occurs. The educational value and cultural enrichment given to all New Yorkers more than warrants strong funding support. I urge everyday New Yorkers to play tourists in our own boroughs. They’d be amazed. Their admission dollars and positive feedback on social media help keep our programs alive.

New York has historically been considered the culture capital of the world. How do you feel the city upholds this legacy in 2025?
The City is still “king of the hill” as a cultural capital, thanks to our elected officials and NYC Tourism + Conventions. Like other cultural institutions, the Zoo is continually finding new ways to engage, educate and enthrall our guests from around the world. We serve as home to over 800 animals, among them 40 endangered species in breeding programs. We connect people to the mission of conservation. It’s a cultural and collective “team” effort.

Janice Monger took the helm of the Staten Island Museum seven years ago. As president and CEO, she has driven the museum forward and raised the Staten Island Museum’s profile in New York City. Ms. Monger applies a social justice lens to museum work, as reflected by institutional efforts to present exhibitions on women’s suffrage and about the Black Angels nurses who helped cure tuberculosis.

If you could attend any event, show, or exhibit in the city this month, what would it be and why?
I’m torn between wanting to see the new Amy Sherald exhibition at the Whitney, and my scholarly interest in the Neue Sachlichkeit exhibition at the Neue Galerie. Both what’s happening now and historic art informing today’s world are important!

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support arts and culture within the city?
Go visit the cultural offerings that make this city great! Take advantage of the amazing exhibitions and productions at your doorstep. Make sure you take the ferry too! Most arts and cultural organizations operate on a shoestring – these exhibitions can’t happen without individuals making a statement that art and expression are important to them by being members, making an annual gift, and telling your elected officials to fully fund arts and culture.

New York has historically been considered the culture capital of the world. How do you feel the city upholds this legacy in 2025?
I’ve lived in NYC for more than 20 years. I had to come here because of the energy and concentration of arts and culture. Appreciate how vibrant the arts are in this city from the smallest to the biggest venues! Support living wages for arts and culture workers and independent artists so that we can continue to be a cultural capital and thrive in this city pursuing and enjoying the self-expression that makes us human.