Darren Walker appointed president of National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Darren Walker has been appointed as the new president of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., effective immediately, taking over from Mitchell P. Rales, who will continue as a trustee. Walker, who has served as president of the Ford Foundation for 11 years and is also a trustee of both the Smithsonian and the National Gallery, plans to depart from the Ford Foundation at the end of 2025. He has been instrumental in transforming grant-making to tackle issues of inequality and social justice, initiating projects such as the Diversifying Art Museum Leadership Initiative in 2017 and the Disability Futures initiative in 2020. Additionally, he spearheaded a $1 billion social bond during the pandemic and established a $300 million fund for cultural institutions that support non-white communities. Kaywin Feldman, the director of the National Gallery, expressed her excitement about Walker's leadership.
Key facts
- Darren Walker appointed president of National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- Walker succeeds Mitchell P. Rales, who remains a trustee.
- Walker was already a trustee of the Smithsonian and the National Gallery.
- He is president of the Ford Foundation, departing at end of 2025.
- Ford Foundation launched DAMLI in 2017 with $6 million to diversify museum staff.
- Disability Futures initiative launched in 2020 with Mellon Foundation, $50,000 annual grants.
- Walker led $1 billion social bond and $300 million America's Cultural Treasures fund during pandemic.
- Previously vice president of Rockefeller Foundation and COO of Abyssinian Development Corporation.
Entities
Institutions
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- Smithsonian
- Ford Foundation
- Mellon Foundation
- Rockefeller Foundation
- Abyssinian Development Corporation
Locations
- Washington, D.C.
- United States
- Harlem
- New York City