FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 6, 2013
Contact: Brittani Von Ruden, Director of Marketing l Public Relations
Contact: Brittani Von Ruden, Director of Marketing l Public Relations
RE: Tom Lidtke to Retire from Museum of Wisconsin Art
Tom Lidtke to Retire from Museum of Wisconsin Art
(WEST BEND, WI)
Tom Lidtke, Executive Director Emeritus at the Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA), will retire after 31 years with the Museum. Serving in an emeritus capacity
since November 2012, Lidtke’s last official day at MOWA is Friday, June 7.
As Executive Director since 1982, Lidtke led MOWA
through fundamental changes in its 51-year history, including the launch
of the $9.3 million capital project that led to the recent
opening of the new Museum building located on Veterans Avenue in West
Bend. Joining the Museum when it was the small, family-run West Bend
Gallery of Fine Arts, it was Lidtke’s dream to create a museum dedicated
exclusively to Wisconsin art. After several
years of dedication and garnering of support, the Early Wisconsin
Collection was unveiled in 1998 upon the State’s sesquicentennial and
eventually, in 2007, the institution was renamed to the Museum of
Wisconsin Art.
Over the course of his career, Lidtke became aware
of a growing movement within the US for regional and state-focused
museums and, being well aware that Wisconsin had no single institution
dedicated to the state’s rich art history and accomplished
contemporary artists, steered the Museum towards fulfilling that role
through exhibitions, collections and archives. He also developed and
taught the first graduate level course on Wisconsin art history in
addition to writing several publications on various
Wisconsin artists.
Lidtke passed the reigns to Laurie Winters in
November 2012, but stayed on in a consulting capacity through the
opening events in April 2013. Winters came to MOWA after 15 successful
years at the Milwaukee Art Museum, most recently as Director of
Exhibitions and Publications; she is also the Founder and President of
The Art Consortium, an international think tank of museum and art world
leaders.
“Tom has an enormous passion and enthusiasm for
Wisconsin art,” says Winters, “I think I can speak for MOWA and all of
its stakeholders when I say that his energy and passion will
be greatly missed.”
The Museum of Wisconsin Art held its new building
Grand Opening in April, welcoming over 5,000 visitors throughout the
three-day celebration. Since the Grand Opening, MOWA has attracted
thousands of people from throughout Wisconsin to see the new
state-of-the-art building and world-class art on display in both the
permanent collection and, the changing exhibition galleries.
Since her arrival, Winters has led her team to
completely rethink the MOWA experience. New plans and processes have
been implemented, including a new membership structure. Visitors
pay a $12 entrance fee, which automatically makes them members and
allows them unlimited entrance to the Museum for one full year. In
addition, exciting new programs have been created and a full studio
schedule released, engaging all abilities at every age
level.
The Museum of Wisconsin Art and its Board of
Directors wish to express their sincere appreciation to Tom Lidtke for
his many years of service, dedication, vision and leadership.
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About The Museum of Wisconsin Art
Established in 1961, MOWA is America’s only
Wisconsin regional art museum and is the primary venue nationally for
the exhibition of historic and contemporary Wisconsin art. It tells
the story of Wisconsin by connecting creative arts with our culture and
collective identity. The institution’s high-caliber exhibitions and
dynamic leadership inform our region’s artistic direction, nurturing the
next generation of artists while showcasing
some of the biggest names in Wisconsin art. The museum is located at
205 Veterans Avenue, West Bend. For general information, call
262.334.9638 or visit www.wisconsinart.org.
Brittani Von Ruden
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS
MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART
MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART
205 Veterans
Ave. / West Bend / WI / 53095
TEL 262.247.2266 /
WISCONSINART.ORG / FAX 262.334.8080