After 25 years on the job, the executive director of one local art center is stepping down.
The Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn has announced that Donna Lamb will step down as its director this summer.
“After 25 years at the Schweinfurth Art Center, over 250 exhibits, and well over 100 wheels of Brie wrapped in phyllo pastry, I plan to hang up my apron and retire this summer,” Lamb said. “I am ready to move on to new adventures, and to make room for a new leader to guide SAC to its exciting next chapter.”
Before her time at the Schweinfurth, Lamb had worked for the nonprofit, the Gallery Association of New York State, that provides exhibit-related services to museums and galleries.
In 2003, she purchased Quilting by the Lake, an annual quilting conference with a quilt show, workshops, and lectures. This purchase helped the museum expand the center’s educational offerings and gain national recognition for its emphasis on fiber arts.
Lamb’s tenure has also seen many improvements to the 205 Genesee Street building that houses the center, including ceiling and floor replacements, a new roof and HVAC system, the creation of the Davis Family Gallery on the second floor, and the addition of sewing, pottery, and wet studios. She also helped oversee the back parking lot entrance project, which is part of the larger West End Arts Campus collaboration between the center and the neighboring Cayuga Museum and Case Resarch Lab.
The Schwheinfurth plans to have a grand opening for the campus on May 3.
Lamb said she is proud of the diversified programming that has flourished at the center under her time as CEO.
“The Schweinfurth’s strength is in weaving together programs that serve local, regional, and national audiences and providing opportunities for artmaking and exhibiting for artists at every level. We exhibit work from first graders to seniors, emerging artists to nationally known artists. We have classes for youth and adults and workshops with nationally known quilters and fiber artists.”
Gerri Spilka, a national arts nonprofit consultant, has been hired by the Schweinfurth’s Board of Directors to conduct the search for Lamb’s successor.
