The Dallas Arts District has announced its new Executive Director: Ahava Silkey-Jones. Silkey-Jones comes to her new role with more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning higher education, nonprofit management, arts administration, and civic engagement.

Background and Experience

Silkey-Jones previously served as Vice Provost of the School of Creative Arts, Entertainment and Design at Dallas College, where she led academic strategy, programming, and industry partnerships across seven campuses for the arts. She received the 2025 Obelisk Award from the Business Council for the Arts and was named a 2025 Top Woman Leader by Women We Admire.

Silkey-Jones holds degrees from Harvard University, Roosevelt University, and DePaul University and serves on numerous local and national boards dedicated to advancing arts, education, and community engagement. She expressed her excitement about joining the Dallas Arts District, stating, “The Dallas Arts District is one of America’s great cultural neighborhoods—a place where creativity inspires community, strengthens the economy, and enriches everyday life.”

Transition and Future Plans

This appointment comes after Lily Cabatu Weiss retired from the role at the end of January after nine years. Former Board Chair Jill Magnuson served as the Interim Executive Director, providing continuity while helping guide the organization through future planning and positioning it for its next chapter.

Silkey-Jones will have a significant portfolio to oversee when she steps into the job. The Dallas Arts District is home to 19 cultural organizations across 118 acres of Downtown Dallas, making it the largest urban arts district in the United States. The organization recently adopted a new strategic vision focused on advocacy, placemaking, safety, infrastructure, programming, and sustainable growth.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.