Art & Legacy Consultant
Valeria Cordero Reyes is an Art & Legacy Consultant with a background in international cultural programming, strategic philanthropy, and nonprofit leadership. With a practice rooted in collaboration and impact, she supports artists, collectors, and cultural stewards in safeguarding and expanding creative legacies. Her approach blends curatorial sensitivity with a strong command of organizational development and audience engagement.
Valeria is a co-founder of Active Culture Partners, a boutique advisory firm based in New York that she launched with Carlota Perez-Appelbaum in 2019. Through this platform, she advises private and institutional clients—including the Cruz-Diez Foundation—on legacy planning, programming, and cultural partnerships. Valeria’s work champions context-rich storytelling, strategic visibility, and sustainable growth for cultural assets.
Prior to founding Active Culture, Valeria served as Executive Director of The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts (VAEA), where she reimagined the organization’s mission and programming. She led the creation of dynamic platforms such as the VAEA Artists’ Registry Online, the Padrino artist grant initiative, and VAEA Movie Nights, while forging partnerships with institutions across the U.S. Highlights of her tenure include supporting exhibitions such as The Illusive Eye and MARISOL: Sculptures and Works on Paper at El Museo del Barrio; New Territories at the Museum of Arts and Design; and Magdalena Fernández at MOCA Los Angeles.
A seasoned development strategist, Valeria also designed and implemented VAEA’s comprehensive fundraising program, launching its Annual Benefit Gala and creating sustained avenues for individual, governmental, and institutional support.
As an expert in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, Valeria has consulted for multiple international organizations, playing a key role in the conception and execution of programs that advance clients’ missions while maximizing resources and amplifying their impact. She worked with the New York-based agency JWP, supporting fundraising initiatives for clients such as amfAR International, CORE, City Harvest, Hudson River Park Friends, and Parsons School of Design.
Valeria is currently a guest faculty member of the Aspen Institute’s 2025 Seminar for Artist-Endowed Foundation Leaders and an alumna of its 2023 Seminar. She holds a B.F.A. from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and a Certificate in Arts Administration from NYU. She is a member of ArtTable, the American Alliance of Museums, the Oral History Association, and the Catalogue Raisonné Scholars Association.
Based in New York and originally from Venezuela, Valeria brings a culturally attuned, impact-driven sensibility to every collaboration—empowering legacy stakeholders to elevate their vision and engage the world.