posted on March 18, 2011 01:20
The Austin Museum of Art has decided not to renew its downtown lease, and will focus instead on strategic planning and its Laguna Gloria property in the near term.
The nonprofit’s leaders said AMOA will not resign the 823 Congress Ave. lease when it expires this October because of economic considerations.
“We are now paying expensive market rate for our downtown space, a difficult position for any nonprofit in today’s economy,” AMOA said in a statement.
Right now, it plans to focus its resources on Laguna Gloria, a 12-acre historical estate in West Austin. AMOA will continue to refurbish the Villa and Art School facilities, and is considering the development of the Sculpture Park and Nature Trail on the grounds.
The nonprofit said it is looking for an interim space for its primary exhibition space and wants to leave its options open.
“We have many options to explore, and the board would be remiss if it didn’t include a plan at Laguna Gloria as an option,” a release said.
In the last few months, AMOA has been in a state of transition, its leaders said.
In December, AMOA sold its lot at Fourth and Guadalupe streets to Travis County for $21 million. The county plans to build a civil and family law courthouse on the site.
In January, longtime executive director Dana Friis-Hansen stepped down from the museum. The organization is conducting a national search for a replacement.
“It is always appropriate for a museum to reexamine its mission, especially when new opportunities arise, and we are doing just that as part of the search process,” leaders stated in a release. “Furthermore, once we hire a new executive director, we will look to that person to help refine our mission and define how we plan to execute it through our programs.”
This year, is the museum’s 50th anniversary. AMOA serves the community through its art school, wide-ranging exhibitions and award-wining educational programs.
2/25/11, Austin Business Journal