Georgianna Lagoria of The Contemporary Museum and David de la Torre of the Mission Houses Museum to leave Honolulu

Wife-husband art executive team Georigianna Lagoria and David de la Torre will be leaving their museum director positions in Honolulu for new opportunities in Los Angeles.

Photograph by Cindy Ellen Russell, taken from the Star Bulletin's 2007 profile of the couple, written by Joleen Oshiro

Georgianna Lagoria, Executive Director of The Contemporary Museum (TCM), resigned early yesterday. Lagoria has directed TCM for over 14 years. During her tenure, the museum established an endowment fund, opened its downtown branch at First Hawaiian Center, and began a capital campaign to construct a new building designed by Frederick Fisher and Partners to house the permanent collection.

Due to the economic downturn, TCM has recently had to shift directon much like many of its sister institutions. It has put its plans for a capital campaign on hold, and in late 2008 it laid off 25 of its 48 employees. Further recent budget cuts have resulted in a shift from national and international traveling exhibitions to a renewed focus on artist residencies, the museum's permanent collection, and shows of local Hawaii art.

Lagoria will be joining husband David de la Torre, Executive Director of the Mission Houses Museum, who has accepted a position as Director of Programs and Chief Curator at a new Los Angeles cultural center, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (LAPCA). Prior to working at the Mission Houses Museum, de la Torre was head of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Art in Public Places Program, and Assistant Director of the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

Lagoria and de la Torre's departures open opportunities for both The Contemporary Museum and the Mission Houses Museum to redefine their operations and programming and choose new Executive Directors who can meet the specific needs of these challenging times. No official announcements have been made about possible candidates.

Full journalistic disclaimer: I was among the 25 staff members laid off from The Contemporary Museum in 2008.