Andrea Nunez-Gamboa shares her career path since graduating from the ARAD masters program at Teachers College-Columbia University! Read the interview article below to learn more about Andrea and what drew her to her current career.
- What background and experiences have shaped your career path, particularly your journey into arts administration?
I have always been enrolled in courses in music, dance, or visual arts. Over time, I began to notice that many of my art teachers struggled financially, as did the organizations where I took classes. Witnessing this made me increasingly aware of the challenges artists and arts institutions face. My interest in arts administration grew from this experience and from a desire to find ways to better support artists and help arts organizations become sustainable through effective administration, strong systems, and thoughtful fundraising.
2. What steps did you take after graduating from the ARAD program that led you to your current role?
My main interest during the ARAD program was to learn more about funding in the visual arts. During that time, I completed several internships, with two particularly formative experiences in development. One was at ART21, where I worked on fundraising efforts for their newest season. The other was at the Whitney Museum of American Art, shortly after the museum had moved to its new building in the Meatpacking District, where I worked in the Special Events department. Both experiences introduced me to the diverse strategies used in nonprofit fundraising and helped me understand the importance of development within the arts sector.
After graduating, I joined the Development team at SOMA, a residency and education program in Mexico City. Later, I became Chief of Development at the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico. Because development in Mexico is still an emerging field, my role required me to work across many areas of fundraising, including grant writing, sponsorships, special events, stewardship, and governance.
During the pandemic, as many development strategies were transforming, I took a different path and became Finance Manager for the Tanya Leighton galleries in Berlin and Los Angeles. This experience gave me a more entrepreneurial perspective on how arts organizations operate and sustain themselves.
Eventually, I returned to development and joined the Advancement team at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). This role brings together two of my main interests: supporting artists and advancing arts education. Having been able to attend graduate school thanks to scholarships, I feel personally invested in helping artists access professional and specialized training. Scholarships play a crucial role in making arts education accessible. In addition, teaching is one of the many ways practicing artists sustain their careers, so working at CalArts feels meaningful to me because it contributes to strengthening the broader ecosystem of the arts.
3. Were there any specific courses, projects, or experiences during your time in the ARAD program that you found especially helpful in building the skills needed for your career?
There were many courses and experiences in the program that were fundamental to my career. One of the most valuable aspects was receiving a holistic education that allowed me to explore areas aligned with my interests. I was able to take courses in marketing, law, accounting (which later proved extremely useful), organizational structures, and development.
One course in particular, focused on arts administration in the visual arts, was a real game-changer for me. Throughout the class, there was a strong emphasis on the important role arts administrators play within the art world. From shaping programming and deciding which collaborations to pursue, to determining which organizations to partner with and how institutions communicate their values through messaging and tone, the course highlighted how administrative decisions influence the cultural landscape.
That experience made me realize the importance of my work and the impact that thoughtful arts administration can have on the field.
4. What advice would you offer to current ARAD students as they prepare for their careers in arts administration or related fields?
I would actually like to offer three pieces of advice.
First, try many different experiences—even volunteer work. You can learn a great deal from being involved with different organizations and seeing how they operate.
Second, build relationships and make friends. Your peers will grow in their careers just as you will, and over time they will become an important part of your professional community and network.
Third, remember that sometimes people may give you discouraging or unhelpful advice, often because the path you are considering doesn’t exist yet or because they are unfamiliar with the field. In those moments, trust your intuition. Don’t diminish your ambitions simply because the path forward is not immediately clear—keep insisting and moving forward.
About Andrea Nunez-Gamboa
Andrea Nunez-Gamboa holds a BA in Cultural Studies and Arts Management from Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana and an MA in Arts Administration from Columbia University, supported by Fulbright, Jumex Contemporary Art Collection, and Mexico’s National Fund for the Arts. She has held development roles at SOMA, the Museum of Modern Art (MAM), and Festival Ambulante in Mexico, as well as finance roles at Tanya Leighton Gallery in Berlin and Los Angeles. Currently, she is Associate Director, Principal Gifts at CalArts in Los Angeles.
Arts Administration 
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