San Francisco Arts Commission Votes to Appoint Executive Director of Arts and Culture as the Agency’s New Department Head, Filling Vacant Director of Cultural Affairs Position

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) today voted in closed session to appoint and name Matthew Goudeau as new department head of the Arts Commission, overseeing a newly unified city agency comprised of the Arts Commission, Grants for the Arts (formerly under the City Administrator’s office), and Film SF (formerly under the Office of Economic and Workforce Development). This appointment fills a position that was vacated on June 30, 2026, following the retirement of the former Director of Cultural Affairs Ralph Remington.

Goudeau was originally announced as the first Executive Director of Arts and Culture to oversee a newly created department bringing together the Arts Commission, Grants for the Arts and Film SF by Mayor Daniel Lurie on April 27, 2026, and began his role on June 1. In lieu of forming a new department, Grants for the Arts, and Film SF have since been brought in under the Arts Commission as part of Mayor Lurie’s current budget proposal. Following his appointment by the Arts Commission to serve as the agency’s department head, Goudeau will continue to use the “Executive Director of Arts and Culture” title, replacing “Director of Cultural Affairs.”

“Matthew’s experience, relationships, and dedication to our arts community are unmatched,” said Mayor Lurie. “As our arts and culture drive San Francisco’s recovery, Matthew will be a partner to the artists and workers leading the way—empowering them to continue bringing their creativity to our galleries, museums, and performance venues. By supporting the arts, we foster vibrant neighborhoods, and I'm so excited to see the work Matthew will do as Executive Director of Arts and Culture.”

Goudeau will be sworn in by Mayor Lurie on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

In this new role, Goudeau will serve as the department head of the Arts Commission, conduct all administrative affairs under the control of the Commission, supervise the staff required for this work, and have all the duties and powers associated with that position, as set forth in the Charter and ordinances of the City and County of San Francisco. Goudeau will oversee a staff of 49. Under San Francisco Charter Section 5.103, the Department Head is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Commission.

“We are ready to roll up our sleeves and bring together three branches of our civic resources dedicated to San Francisco’s creative sector. Under one united organization, we now have a unique opportunity to envision, plan, and bring to life a renewed commitment to our civic responsibility to artists, arts and cultural organizations and the many stakeholders building our city’s creative economy at a pivotal moment,” said Charles “Chuck” Collins, Arts Commission President. “I look forward to working with our new Executive Director of Arts and Culture to listen to our communities, strengthen our resources, and leverage our collective impact for the greater good. We thank former Director of Cultural Affairs Ralph Remington for his five and a half years of service to the City and Arts Commission and helping set the groundwork for the future of our arts community.”

Goudeau has previously held senior roles across six San Francisco mayoral administrations, most recently as Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Daniel Lurie. His public service also includes roles as Deputy Chief of Protocol and Director of Grants for the Arts.

"I am honored by the Arts Commission's appointment and grateful for the opportunity to serve San Francisco in this new capacity. Bringing together the Arts Commission, Grants for the Arts, and Film SF creates an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the City's creative ecosystem through a more coordinated and collaborative approach,” said Matthew Goudeau, Executive Director of Arts and Culture. "Together with our Commissioners, staff, artists, filmmakers, cultural organizations, community partners, and Mayor Lurie, we will continue investing in the people and places that make San Francisco one of the world's great cultural cities, supporting creativity, beauty, and cultural expression in every neighborhood, while ensuring the arts remain an essential part of our economy and civic life."

In the cultural sector, Goudeau has led fundraising and strategic partnerships at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and The David Ireland House in San Francisco, as well as at The Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas, where he completed a capital campaign supporting a major permanent work by artist Robert Irwin.

He serves on the board of the Yerba Buena Partnership and is a former board member of ArtCare, CinemaSFBay, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, and the GLBT Historical Society. He is also a longtime volunteer with the St. Anthony Foundation free clothing program. In 2024, he was named a Knight of St. Francis.

He holds a B.A. in Politics and a St. Ignatius Certificate from the University of San Francisco and lives in San Francisco.

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About The San Francisco Arts Commission

The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) is the city agency that champions the arts as essential to daily life by investing in a vibrant arts community, enlivening the urban environment and shaping innovative cultural policy. Our programs include: Civic Art Collection, Civic Design Review, Community Investments, Public Art, SFAC Galleries, and Art Vendor Licensing. To learn more, visit sf.gov/artscommission.

Grants for the Arts (GFTA) promotes San Francisco's diverse and unique communities by supporting the arts through equitable grantmaking. We strive to be a stable, dependable resource for nonprofit arts and culture organizations who successfully meet funding criteria and are committed to supporting the full spectrum of art and culture in San Francisco. To learn more, visit sf.gov/gfta

Film SF | San Francisco Film Commission is the official film office for the City & County of San Francisco. We champion filming to support a diversity of storytellers and our thriving production community. We attract filmmakers to our cinematic city through the Scene in San Francisco incentive and support local talent, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth. To learn more, visit sf.gov/filmsf