About

I'm an arts leader with over 20 years of service to the sector. Here's a bit more about me.

Carol M. Highsmith,  Detail of the Bloch Building, Nelson Atkins Museum Bloch, Kansas City, Missouri,  Color and cropping by Koven J. Smith,  CC0 1.0

Hello!

I’m Koven J. Smith, an arts & culture strategist and philanthropic leader dedicated to advancing systems-level change in the arts. With over 20 years of experience in arts philanthropy, nonprofit innovation, and digital transformation, I balance strategic insight, sector-wide approaches, and direct community investments to achieve sustainable arts ecosystems.

WORK

Senior Director, Arts
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation | 2021–2025

  • Managed an $80M portfolio of national and community-focused arts grants
  • Developed and implemented Knight’s 2021 tech-forward arts funding strategy
  • Created the Knight Art + Tech Expansion Fund, an open call program to deliever $8M in support for critical digital infrastructure to arts practitioners in Charlotte, Detroit, Akron, and Miami
  • Managed $35M in grants designed to catalyze the growth of local arts ecosystems
  • Developed the Knight Digital Maturity Model, an assessment framework designed to measure grantee capacity and readiness
  • Led development of key components of Knight’s 2025 strategy redesign

Principal
Koven J. Smith Consulting | 2013–2021

  • Developed and implemented overall digital strategies for non-profit organizations including the Watermill Center, Fotogalleriet (Oslo), Chicago Architecture Foundation, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Smithsonian Anacostia, and Harry Ransom Center, among others
  • Developed, in partnership with the Kress Foundation, the Museum Technology Charter, a framework to assess the digital capacity of museums
  • Research and assessment on behalf of Knight Foundation, the Doris Duke Charitable Trust, CultureSource (Detroit), and the Texas Association of Museums, among others
  • Led website development for the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Blanton Museum of Art, Wichita Art Museum, and others

Head of Digital (Various Titles)
Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas | 2014-2018
Denver Art Museum | 2010-2013
Metropolitan Museum of Art | 2005-2010
Indianapolis Museum of Art | 2001-2005

  • Hired and managed digital teams of 5-10 FTE and contractors
  • Led cross-functional teams in the development of institution-wide digital strategies
  • Led website redesigns, in-gallery interpretive technology implementations, and mobile application development projects
  • Implemented collections and digital asset systems and policies, with emphasis on Open Access
  • Led development of in-gallery mobile applications

TEACHING

Adjunct Faculty, Museum Studies
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD | 2013-2021

Adjunct Faculty, Arts Administration
New York University (Steinhardt School of Education), New York, NY—2007-2010

AFFILIATIONS

  • American Composers Forum, Board Member, Governance Committee Chair
  • Western Museums Association, Board Member
  • National Women’s History Museum, Education Committee
  • American Alliance of Museums, National Program Committee
  • Institute of Museum and Library Services, NLG and MFA panel & field reviewer
  • Museum Computer Network, Board Member and Program Chair