The Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA) has announced that Claudia Flores is the new President of its Board of Directors. Flores, who joined the Board in 2019, succeeds Laura Donnelley, who has stepped down after serving as ICA LA’s Board President for over eighteen years.
Donnelley’s leadership was instrumental in the museum’s move to the Arts District in 2017. She championed artists’ perspectives and encouraged the museum to center its programming around them. Donnelley will remain an active member of the Board, which she has been part of since 1999.
“I am thrilled to share the news of Claudia’s appointment,” said Donnelley. “Her passion for ICA LA and her deep commitment to education and public engagement has served the museum enormously since she joined the Board in 2019, and I believe her infectious energy and dedication make her the ideal leader for the Board at this moment.”
ICA LA’s Executive Director, Anne Ellegood, also praised Donnelley’s leadership, saying that her partnership, guidance, and steadfast support had been invaluable since she joined the museum in 2019.
“This transition comes at an exciting moment with ICA LA having recently completed a phase of strategic planning that resulted in an ambitious vision and roadmap for the museum’s future, including many exciting priorities that will further amplify its mission,” said Ellegood.
Flores, who is committed to making ICA LA a space where people of all backgrounds can gather, expand their awareness, and ignite their creativity, said she was honored to serve an institution dedicated to education, compassion, and service.
ICA LA is a non-collecting museum with a bold curatorial vision and innovative programming that brings some of the most challenging social issues confronting our society to the fore. Since its founding in 1988, ICA LA has been a “museum of firsts” for both artists and audiences. Its location in the Arts District is a tangible embodiment of its commitment to being a site of convergence for artists and a conduit to bring different communities together from Los Angeles County and beyond.
The museum is actively building its future as a welcoming and dynamic space where people can gather and feel encouraged and safe to explore the world and themselves and learn through the lens of the artworks and public programs it offers. ICA LA believes that artists, who are supported to do their best work, and a diverse publics, who experience radical openness and inquisitive criticality, have the power to transform Los Angeles and the world.
Flores’ appointment is a significant step for ICA LA, and her infectious energy and dedication will undoubtedly help strengthen and grow the museum and its board for generations to come.
Sources:
Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles