The City of Mesa (Mesa) has named Luis F. Ruiz, Jr. as the Arts & Culture Director, and Arts Consulting Group (ACG) extends its congratulations on his leadership appointment. He began his tenure on September 29, 2025.
Mesa’s Arts and Culture Department offers a broad array of arts programs, performances, facilities, and engagement activities. Its annual budget of $25.4 million operates several city-owned arts and culture venues: Mesa Arts Center (MAC), Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum (MCAM, part of MAC), Arizona Museum of Natural History (AZMNH), and the idea Museum. The Arts and Culture Department also hosts arts and culture classes, events, and community engagement activities and engages in strategic partnerships with a variety of arts and cultural community organizations.
Luis Ruiz brings nearly 30 years of experience leading public venues and cultural programs in municipal and university settings across Arizona, Kansas, and Florida. A Miami native, Luis holds both a bachelor’s degree in music business and a master of business administration degree from the University of Miami. He spent two decades living and working in the Phoenix Metro area, serving in leadership roles with the City of Phoenix, the City of Tempe, and the City of Mesa before his most recent leadership role in Kansas.
Luis previously worked for the City of Mesa for five years, serving as Deputy Director for Parks and Recreation and overseeing commercial operations including the Mesa Convention Center, The Post, the Mesa Amphitheatre, and the Office of Special Events. Most recently, he served as Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture for the City of Lawrence, Kansas, where he led strategic and master planning, oversaw multi-million-dollar budgets, expanded community engagement, and partnered with arts, tourism, and cultural organizations to broaden public access to programs and facilities.
Throughout his career, Luis has led teams in the programming, operation, and stewardship of performing arts venues and community cultural spaces, while also advancing major facility renovations and historic preservation projects. He has worked closely with advisory boards, community leaders, and funding partners to ensure that facilities and programs align with civic priorities, operate efficiently, and serve the evolving needs of the community.
“I look forward to leading Mesa’s talented Arts and Culture team and fostering an environment of collaboration and imagination," said Luis. "Working alongside the leaders and staff at the Mesa Arts Center, the idea Museum, and the Arizona Museum of Natural History, we will present world-class performances and exhibitions, inspire creativity and support early childhood learning, and advance research while sharing the region’s rich heritage. Together, we will expand access, strengthen community connections, and position Mesa as a cultural leader locally, regionally, and nationally.”
"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."
ACG is the leading provider of hands-on interim management, executive search, revenue enhancement, strategic planning & community engagement, and facilities & program planning and research services for the arts and culture industry. ACG consultants are located in communities across the United States and Canada to best serve the needs of our clients. ACG team members have decades of combined senior leadership experience in every artistic and cultural discipline and area of functional management expertise.