Michael L. Royce is currently the Executive Director of the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA). NYFA provides more financial support and information for artists than any organization in the US. Prior to NYFA, Mr. Royce led the Moynihan Station Development Corporation, where he led the initial stages of construction on the James A. Farley Building, bringing life to the vision of the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

His efforts to support cultural exchange began in 1998, when, as the Deputy Director of the New York State Council on the Arts, on a delegation to Israel, he oversaw and implemented the creation of the New York–Israel Cultural Cooperation Commission to foster exchange between the two states.

In March 2001, the Japanese Consul of Bahrain invited him to participate in a series of talks aimed at integrating the cultural concerns of the Jewish people living in the Middle East. This invitation was a result of Mr. Royce’s trip to Japan in 1999, as a guest of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in which he consulted with leading political figures on fostering heritage and cultural awareness.

As a creative artist, Mr. Royce has performed in and directed many theatrical productions throughout the US. Highlights include performing at Town Hall in New York City, co-creating the “Singing Chorus Tree” at the South Street Seaport, now in its 22nd year, and stage managing the Off-Broadway musical hit “What’s A Nice Country Like You Doing In A State Like This?” As an administrator, he has been Managing Director for the Shadow Box Theatre, Marketing Director for the Creative Arts Team, and Director of Programming for the Theatre Development Fund.

In 2002, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his contributions to the arts.

Creativity, Creative Thinking, Leadership,