Mesa Welcomes Luis F. Ruiz, Jr. as New Arts & Culture Director

The City of Mesa is thrilled to announce the selection of Luis F. Ruiz, Jr. as the new Director of Arts & Culture. Ruiz, who brings nearly three decades of distinguished experience in municipal and university cultural programming, will officially join Mesa's leadership team in October.

Ruiz is no stranger to Mesa, having previously served the City for five years as Deputy Director for Parks and Recreation, where he successfully oversaw commercial operations for iconic venues including the Mesa Convention Center, The Post, Mesa Amphitheatre and the Office of Special Events. His intimate knowledge of Mesa's cultural ecosystem, paired with fresh perspectives gained from his recent leadership role in Kansas, uniquely positions him to advance the City's artistic mission.

"Luis represents exactly the kind of visionary leadership we need to propel Mesa's arts and culture scene to new heights," said Mesa City Manager Scott Butler. "His deep understanding of our community, combined with his proven track record of innovation and excellence, makes him the ideal person to guide our world-class cultural institutions into an exciting new chapter."

Most recently, Ruiz served as Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture for the City of Lawrence, Kansas, where he led strategic planning initiatives, managed multi-million-dollar budgets and significantly expanded community engagement with arts and cultural programming. His leadership included overseeing diverse portfolios spanning 4,000 acres of parks, multiple recreation centers, athletic fields and cultural and historical facilities. As Mesa's Arts & Culture Department Director, Luis will oversee some of the region's most celebrated cultural institutions, including Mesa Arts Center - one of the largest comprehensive arts facilities in the country - the innovative idea Museum and the renowned Arizona Museum of Natural History.

"I'm incredibly excited to return to Mesa and work alongside the talented teams at Mesa Arts Center, idea Museum and Arizona Museum of Natural History," said Ruiz. "Together, we will present world-class performances and exhibitions, inspire creativity, support early childhood learning, and share our region's rich heritage. My goal is to expand access, strengthen community connections and position Mesa as a cultural leader locally, regionally and nationally."

A Miami native, Ruiz holds a Bachelor of Music Business and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami. His bilingual capabilities in English and Spanish will further enhance Mesa's ability to serve its diverse community. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional skill in facility management, historic preservation, community partnership development and financial stewardship of public cultural resources.

Mesa partnered with Arts Consulting Group and conducted a national search for the position. "Arts Consulting Group played a pivotal role in the recruitment and interview process. Their expertise in the industry allowed for a wide candidate pool. The selection process was comprehensive and participative, involving input from the Foundation and Advisory Boards, staff and city leadership," said Candace Cannistraro, Deputy City Manager overseeing Arts and Culture. "Luis received overwhelming support from all groups he met, reflecting his ability to build consensus and inspire confidence across diverse constituencies."

Ruiz's appointment comes at an exciting time for Mesa's cultural landscape, with ongoing investments in programming, facility enhancements and community engagement initiatives. His proven ability to work effectively with advisory boards, funding partners and community organizations will be instrumental in advancing Mesa's reputation as a premier destination for arts and culture in the Southwest.