Executive Director, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña

NASAA has named Carlos Ruiz Cortés, executive director of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, the recipient of its 2024 Luminary Award for Transformative Executive Leadership. This award recognizes an executive director who has made a significant contribution to public support for the arts at the state, regional and national levels and exhibited exemplary leadership, innovative thinking and dedication to diverse artistic expression. The Luminary Award is inspired by Gary Young, an early leader in the state arts agency field.

Carlos Ruiz Cortés was appointed executive director of the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (ICP) in January 2017 to implement and oversee public policy for arts, culture and heritage. He manages 200+ employees and contractors, over 35 historic buildings (including two theatres), the National Art Collection, the General Archive and the National Library. Dr. Ruiz Cortés supervises 18 divisions of the state, including Archaeology and Built Heritage.

Dr. Ruiz Cortés is renowned for advancing ICP’s mission and vision through many challenges, including severe budget cuts (90%) in 2017 followed by devastating hurricanes Irma and María the same year, earthquakes in 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, ICP has established long-term partnerships that benefit its constituents and increase access to Puerto Rico’s heritage. Activities include internships, digitization projects, the annual celebration of multiple cultural festivals and active relationships with the Puerto Rican diaspora.

During Dr. Ruiz Cortés’s tenure, folk arts traditions were recorded and distributed online as well as on local television, resulting in two Emmy Awards. ICP was honored as a guardian of Puerto Rican heritage with the 2023 National Ceiba Award, presented by the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture. Other recipients of this award include Ricky Martin, Jimmy Smits and Rita Moreno, among others.

From 2018-2023, Dr. Ruiz Cortés served simultaneously as the executive director of the Corporación de las Artes Musicales, the public corporation of the Symphony Orchestra of Puerto Rico. He holds a Ph.D. in history from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. He is a board member of Mid Atlantic Arts.

“NASAA is honored to recognize Carlos Ruiz Cortés and his many accomplishments with the Luminary Award for Transformative Executive Leadership,” said NASAA President and CEO Pam Breaux. “His strategic thinking, vision and dedication enabled the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture to triumph over unprecedented challenges. Consistently driving progress while remaining committed to the people he serves, Carlos has expanded access to the arts across the island of Puerto Rico, leaving a profound mark across communities. I can think of none more deserving to receive this highest of distinctions for executive leadership in our field.”