Danyelle Means To Lead Museum Of Indian Arts & Culture

Danyelle Means

NMDCA News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) announced Thursday that Danyelle Means (Oglala Lakota) has been appointed executive director of Museum of Indian Arts & Culture (MIAC) in Santa Fe. She has served for eight months as interim director.

"I am excited to welcome Danyelle's ongoing leadership of MIAC as its new executive director," NMDCA Cabinet Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego said. "During her tenure as interim director, Danyelle has proven to be an effective and visionary steward. She has been instrumental in creating space where Native artists and their contributions are honored and highlighted. I look forward to seeing where her continued leadership takes the museum."

Previously, Means worked for the First Peoples Fund (in association with the National Opinion Research Center), Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, Inc., and was the first person of Indigenous heritage to lead Center for Contemporary Arts. She also served as Director of Advancement at the Institute of American Indian Arts and Executive Director of the Institute of American Indian Arts Foundation.

She holds a ​​Master of Arts in Museum Studies from Marist College/Instituto Lorenzo de' Medici, Florence, Italy (ABT), and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and French from University of South Dakota.

"I am deeply honored to take on the role of executive director at MIAC," Means said. "I am committed to serving all New Mexicans by ensuring that the voices of Native artists and community members are celebrated and integrated into the narrative of our cultural heritage. Together, we will continue to uplift Indigenous stories and art, fostering a deeper understanding of our rich traditions and contemporary expressions."

Means' appointment was effective Sept. 14, 2024.

About the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture