Arivel Figueroa
MA Arts Politics Class of 2018
BA, Drama/Theater, Universidad de Puerto Rico Rio Piedras, 2009
BA, Cultural Tourism, Universidad de Puerto Rico Carolina, 2014
Arivel Figueroa is a policy consultant in the arts and culture, grant writer, marketing coordinator, freelance producer, and music blogger based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2009, she completed a BA in theater at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras Campus and received another BA in cultural tourism in 2014. Arivel received the Medal of Highest Score from the Faculty of the University of Puerto Rico in 2014, a Fellow of the 2017 National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts Scholarship, and a Fellow of the Tisch School of the Arts Scholarship, Goldsmith Award.
She worked for the Senate of Puerto Rico as a legislative assistant and Committee staff, creating and participating in a few nonprofit projects for local musicians and artists. In May 2018, Figueroa finished her Masters in Arts and Public Policy at New York University (NYU). After living in New York for 5 years, working as a programming coordinator at the Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics at NYU, and as a producing assistant at Dance/NYC, she moved back to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
In 2024, Arivel decided to run as an assembly legislator for her hometown and city of San Juan, PR. Even though she didn't make it as an assemblywoman, her campaign was well-known as the official voice for local artists & creatives in San Juan, starting a call to action campaign and urgency to help artists and creatives.In 2025, she will continue as a consultant for the House of Representatives in Puerto Rico and start a new opportunity as an institutional officer for the nonprofit organization Pro Arte Musical.
What drew you to the MA Arts Politics program?
The program is diverse and the city helps to connect with the artistic world.
How did your experience in the program shape your work? Is there a particular moment or project that you can remember as having an impact?
The experience of studying and working in NYC, that's the best experience for me.
What are some of the challenges and/or rewards of this program?
Some of the rewards are getting to know people from around the world and doing amazing artistic and policy work.