In the three months Artisphere has been open, the Rosslyn-based arts center has been without a leader. Until now. It was announced today that José Ortiz has been named the organization’s executive director.

Ortiz brings with him an impressive resume: He arrives to Artisphere from the Harvard Art Museum, where as deputy director he oversaw the daily operation of Harvard’s three art museums—the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum and Fogg Museum. Prior to Harvard, Ortiz served as deputy director/chief of finance and administration at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

“I am thrilled to join the Artisphere team and to have the opportunity to lead an arts center committed to supporting emerging artists,” said Ortiz in the press release. “I look forward to connecting our diverse audiences to Artisphere’s incredible programming and advancing art that explores the ideas and issues of our time.”

Since it opened last October, the 54,000 square-foot facility—home to the Washington Shakespeare Company, the National Chamber Ensemble, Fashion Fights Poverty, and three art galleries—has hosted 99 programs, or more than one per day. It will be interesting to see how prolific Artisphere’s programming will be now that Ortiz is at the helm.

Photo: Artisphere