Christina Vassallo is leaving her role as director of the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) in Cincinnati, Ohio, effective January 2, 2026, to become the new director of the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage in Philadelphia starting January 5, 2026. Vassallo, who joined the CAC in 2023, oversaw exhibitions including a group show celebrating the 20th anniversary of Zaha Hadid's first completed US building, as well as solo shows by Vivian Browne, Marcus Leslie Singleton, and Sheida Soleimani. Prior to the CAC, she served as executive director of the Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia, Spaces in Cleveland, and Flux Factory in New York.
This move matters because Vassallo is transitioning from leading a major contemporary art museum to heading a prominent grant-making organization that distributes millions in funding to Philadelphia-area arts and culture groups—on the same day her appointment was announced, the Pew Center awarded $8.6 million to 44 local organizations and artists. Her departure marks a leadership change at the CAC after a relatively short tenure, while her arrival at the Pew Center signals a continued focus on arts philanthropy and institutional support in Philadelphia, a city where she previously led the Fabric Workshop and Museum.