Creative Time Appoints Jean Cooney As Executive Director

Creative Time, a New York-based arts nonprofit known for commissioning and presenting large-scale public art projects, has named Jean Cooney its executive director, the organization announced Thursday.

Cooney has served as vice president of arts and culture for the Times Square Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting major tourist destinations, and as artistic director of Times Square since 2019. Prior to that, she spent seven years at Creative Time in various roles, culminating in her role as Associate Director from June 2018 to April 2019. Cooney has worked on many of Creative Time’s most high-profile projects, including Subtle, or marvelous sugar babya monumental sugar sculpture by Kara Walker at the Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn. last year, art news The work was named one of the 100 best works of art of the 21st century.

“Gene has a deep commitment to public art and has developed excellent relationships with artists and the broader arts community,” Jon Neidich, chairman of Creative Time’s board of directors, said in a statement. “Gene is truly the ideal person to lead the organization into its next decade as a pioneer of groundbreaking public art.”

“I’m excited to join Creative Time, an organization that continues to define the public art field and its endless possibilities, and support artists in creating work that seems impossible, completely unexpected, undeniably powerful and compelling,” Cooney said in a statement. “With my seven years of experience growing up with the organization, and nearly seven years leading the arts in Times Square, engaging with Times Square’s broad and diverse public audience, I’m extremely excited to work with the staff, board, artists and the broader Creative Times community to build bridges to the past, present and future of the organization’s incredible legacy.”

During his tenure with the Times Square Alliance, the nonprofit showcased large-scale public art projects by Yvette Mayorga, Maia Chao, Shantell Martin and others. Last year, the organization presented the 2023 sculpture by Thomas J. Price Rooted in the starsA 12-foot-tall statue of a black woman has sparked a right-wing firestorm online.

In September, Justine Ludwig announced that she would be leaving her post as executive director of Creative Time for more than seven years to join PST ART as its first creative director. PST Art is a five-year initiative in which Getty provides funding to dozens of institutions across Southern California to mount exhibitions on common themes.

Cooney will begin his new role at Creative Time on February 23. The organization will celebrate Cooney’s return at its annual spring gala on April 28.