Lawndale Art Center Announces Leadership Transition

Houston, Texas, March 25, 2015 - Lawndale Art Center announced today the resignation of Executive Director Christine West from her eight-year post, effective May 8, 2015. In her statement, West explained that she is leaving to pursue independent projects and other opportunities.

West has served as Executive Director since January 2007, and in that time grew the organization through the addition of staff and increased programming, launching both the Artist Studio Program, now in its ninth Round, and the Mural Project. During her time at Lawndale, West served on the board of directors for the Texas Association of Museums, Glasstire: Texas Visual Art Online and the Houston Museum District Association. She along with Lawndale's Board of Directors stabilized the organization's finances and built a small cash reserve.

Nicole Romano, Chair, Board of Directors, states "We have been incredibly lucky to have Christine lead Lawndale for the last eight years. She leaves Lawndale in very capable hands with a dedicated Board and staff and together we are making plans for a smooth transition. Lawndale is poised to continue its growth and further its impact on Houston's cultural community."

The Board of Directors of Lawndale wishes West well in her future endeavors and will soon be selecting a search committee and appointing an Interim Director to serve until a suitable replacement is found.

Lawndale Art Center develops local contemporary artists and the audience for their art. Lawndale is a non-profit alternative space for the exhibition of contemporary works in all media, unique in its focus on Houston area artists. Founded in 1979, Lawndale has owned its present location on Main Street in Houston's Museum District since 1993. With four galleries in its locally significant Art Deco building, Lawndale includes close to 500 artists annually in changing exhibitions. Over twenty exhibitions, informal talks and special events are offered yearly including annual events such as Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead, Design Fair and The Big Show.  

Programs at Lawndale are supported in part by The National Endowment for the Arts, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The City of Houston through the Houston Museum District Association, The Texas Commission on the Arts, Houston Endowment, The Brown Foundation, Inc., The John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation, The John P. McGovern Foundation, The Joan Hohlt and Roger Wich Foundation, Felvis Foundation/David R. Graham, Mid-America Arts Alliance, John M. O'Quinn, Gracie and Bob Cavnar, Cecily E. Horton, Ann W. Harithas, Diana M. Hudson and Lee Kaplan, Julia and Luke Burke, Monica Rios and Colin Fulton, Samantha Schnee and Michael Hafner, Henke Law Firm LLP, Jenny and Mark Johnson, Gretchen and Andrew McFarland, Paula Murphy, Lia and David Rodi, Nicole and Joey Romano, Scott R. Sparvero, Mary Martha and Joel Staff, Nancy and Sidney Williams , Nina and Michael Zilkha, TeleFlex, United Airlines, Kinzelman Art Consulting, Number 4 High Performance Hair Care, Page, Poggenpohl Design Studio, and other contributors, memberships, benefit events and volunteers.