Amidst a history of internal tumult and public skepticism, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) has handed over its reins to Maricelle Robles, an arts leader with a definitive plan and a pedigree in community engagement. In the announcement made earlier, uncovered by the YBCA itself, Robles, familiar with the arts community as Mari, brings a wealth of experience from previous roles, including a transformative tenure at the Headlands Center for the Arts.

Mari takes charge after a three-year gap without a permanent CEO, a period marked by internal strife, including an artist protest that evolved into a serious censorship controversy. The hiring is a strategic and optimistic move; YBCA appears eager to quickly pivot back to its mission and reinforce its status as a cultural hub. "Mari’s stellar track-record — as a Bay Area arts leader, the relationships she’s built with the arts community locally and nationally, and her extensive experience driving innovative participatory programs at arts institutions — underscored that she was the right person for the role," said Robin Abad, co-chair of the YBCA board, as per the San Francisco Chronicle.

Robles' tenure begins in January 2025, after the interim stewardship of Jim Rettew, who stepped in following the resignation of former CEO Sara Fenske Bahat amid allegations and a rather public backlash. This leadership change comes on the heels of a kerfuffle in which artists embroiled the YBCA in a heated debate over censorship following alterations to their work in the Bay Area Now 9 exhibition.

"This moment is ripe with so much opportunity," Robles told the San Francisco Chronicle, underlining her commitment to healing and growth following the recent issues. She plans to partner with neighboring arts organizations actively and build upon YBCA's legacy, focusing on being "rooted in the Bay Area but globally-minded," a pledge that could mark a significant turning point for the beleaguered institution.