Mayor Parker chooses new arts and culture chief

With a self-portrait photo of Barkley Hendricks are Richard Watson, Anna Arabindan-Kesson, and Valerie Gay at the Art Sanctuary.A trained soprano with degrees from Temple University and the University of the Arts, Gay, 58, was most recently deputy director of audience engagement and chief experience officer at theArts leaders said they were thrilled with Mayor Cherelle L.

“With Val’s appointment we believe that the arts and culture sector now has several champions embedded within the administration,” said Patricia Wilson Aden, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. “This is such a strong affirmation of the mayor’s response to the arts and culture community’s advocacy of appointing a high-level cabinet person, and we are very happy Mayor Parker has responded — and by bringing in someone at helm that is so very well-qualified.

“Val has a background in business, she understands the creative economy and arts and culture’s influence on the economy, but she’s a creative as well,” said Aden. “She’s been involved with small organizations and large organizations. She is at the nexus of a lot of those things.

Addressing the arts leaders in attendance, she said: “You are what I would consider to be a part of the nucleus of what is a great unifier in our globe, in our commonwealth and here in our city, no matter the race, class, socio-economic status, the zip code, sexual orientation or identity, and/or religion. There is something about melody, music, and art that allows us to feel our human oneness.

“As mayor of this city,” she said, “I promise I won’t be afraid to make the tough decisions needed to ensure that this community thrives.”

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