Daniel has led artistic entrepreneurship initiatives, such as a theatre company and a platform for emerging artists, and has held institutional positions at the Queens Council on the Arts and the King Juan Carlos I Center at New York University. He currently develops projects with institutions such as IE University, Radar Cultura, and Fundación Contemporánea, combining his experience in education and cultural management. He advocates for maintaining constant curiosity, pursuing a top-level international education in the humanities, and creating one’s own professional path in response to the challenges of the cultural sector.
What are your main responsibilities in your current role?
Some of my tasks include supporting cultural organizations to optimize processes, developing strategies to achieve objectives, designing educational and cultural programs, and facilitating participatory processes.
What has been your professional journey to where you are today, and what were the biggest challenges you faced?
I studied Art History at the Complutense University of Madrid and earned my PhD in Cultural Studies from The City University of New York. During my undergraduate studies in Madrid, I led two cultural entrepreneurship projects: a theatre company and a platform for emerging artists. Once in the United States, I held institutional positions such as Program Manager at the Queens Council on the Arts and Head of Artistic Residencies at the KJCC of New York University. When I returned to Madrid, I began working in the cultural and educational sectors, developing projects with institutions such as IE University, Radar Cultura, and Fundación Contemporánea. During these years, my main challenge was, as a student, finding good internship opportunities and, after finishing my studies, securing a permanent position within a cultural organization. I achieved neither, so I decided to create my own independent professional path bridging the worlds of education and culture.
How do you stay inspired and up to date in a constantly evolving field? What platforms do you use to stay informed?
It is essential to maintain constant curiosity: visiting exhibitions, reading books, attending concerts, and participating in events. I believe it is crucial to stay very informed about what is happening in the sector at the local, national, and global levels in order to respond quickly to its needs.
What skills or qualities do you consider fundamental to your success in the cultural sector?
Acquiring a high-level international education in the humanities, developing strong interpersonal skills, and refusing to conform to the precarious working conditions that often characterize the sector.
What advice would you give to someone starting their career in the cultural world?
The established path to professional success in the cultural sector is achievable only in very few cases. If it doesn’t work for you, don’t persist in that direction — create your own.