The Board of Directors of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville is pleased to announce the selection of Diana Donovan as the permanent Executive Director. Diana, who previously served the Board of Directors, stepped in as the Interim Executive Director, last September. Since taking the position, she has been an agent of change, taking the Cultural Council into new and exciting directions, including the successful move of the organization’s headquarters to the Jessie Ball duPont Center - the first move in over 20 years.
Diana comes to the Cultural Council with multi-dimensional years of executive level leadership and board experience with demonstrated expertise in relational and organizational development, shaping successful and effective fund development-based strategies within the arts and culture sector and non-profit community. This experience has been invaluable in her role and has allowed her to build relationships, expand public-private partnerships, and increase stakeholder trust. Diana’s appointment was announced last Friday after a lengthy, national search was conducted to fill the position. She was chosen from over 109 applicants.
“Diana’s strategic, innovative, and collaborative leadership has made a deep and lasting impact on our organization,” said Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville Board Chair Jannet Walker-Ford, “During Diana’s tenure, she has cultivated unanimous board support for the executive directorship, her leadership style aligns perfectly with furthering the Board’s vision to enhance equity, advocacy, education, and opportunity throughout our arts and culture industry and community.”
“It’s an honor to officially join the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville,” said Donovan. “Since September, I’ve worked diligently to reinvigorate, lead, and elevate the Council’s critical mission to enrich life in Northeast Florida through investment in arts and culture. As I move forward in this role, we move forward together. I will continue to steadfastly steward our mission and vision that arts and culture organizations are recognized by all as essential to our quality of life.”
The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville welcomes Diana as their new leader and looks forward to working together to bring more art and culture throughout our city.