Diya Vij, currently vice president of curatorial and arts programs at Powerhouse Arts, has been named New York City's culture commissioner, succeeding Laurie Cumbo.

Vij is a seasoned curator with past roles at Creative Time, the High Line, and a tenure at the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, including launching the Public Artist in Residence program in 2015.

Her educational background includes an MA in Art History from Hunter College and a BA from Bard College, with earlier leadership at the Queens Museum of Art.

Philanthropy and arts leaders endorse Vij, highlighting her potential to blend public funding with private investment while safeguarding free expression.

The New York Times confirmed the announcement on February 28, 2026, following weeks of rumors in the local arts community.

At Creative Time, Vij oversaw projects such as Chloë Bass’s subway PA artwork broadcast and other initiatives that extended art into public space.

During her Creative Time tenure, she led initiatives like the CTHQ project, relaunched the Creative Time Summit in 2024, and supported Indigenous-led exhibitions such as The World’s UnFair (2023) and Moving Chains: Toward Abolition (2023).

Vij helped launch the Public Artists in Residence (PAIR) program in 2015, embedding artists within city agencies for civic-facing residencies.

NYC’s Department of Cultural Affairs is the nation’s largest municipal arts funder, supporting over 1,000 nonprofit cultural groups and distributing about $245 million in city funds in the last fiscal year.

As the primary arts funder, DCLA oversees grants, capital projects, CreateNYC, and other initiatives across the city’s cultural ecosystem.

Vij will succeed Laurie Cumbo, with her confirmation aligning with budget cycle debates over balancing neighborhood programs with large institutions.

Industry leaders will be watching how Vij navigates funding dynamics across New York City’s five boroughs as she assumes the role.