Overview

• Her exit was announced by Cultural Advisory Council co-chair Richard Logan during a Tuesday meeting and confirmed by Mayor Brandon Johnson’s spokesperson, Cassio Mendoza.
• The mayor’s office said the search for a new Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events leader is underway, with Hedspeth’s last day and interim leadership not yet specified.
• A source close to Hedspeth said she is taking a private-sector job after leaving the post.
• Hedspeth’s nearly 20-month tenure drew criticism over high staff turnover, bullying allegations, and a public letter from more than 100 artists, alongside disputes over programming she defended as free expression.
• DCASE’s role in citywide events and arts grants has grown more consequential as federal cultural funding faces reductions, a context Johnson’s office cited in framing the leadership transition.