SAN ANTONIO, TX.- Artpace’s Board of Directors announced today that Riley Robinson, who has worked at the renowned artist residency since before its opening in 1995, will assume the role of Director. Robinson, an artist in his own right, will draw on his intimate understanding of the needs of artists, a 24-year history of facilitating the creation of artwork, and decades of managing Artpace operations. His immediate focus will be on planning for Artpace’s future and the organization’s 25th anniversary in 2020 and beyond.
On the news of his appointment, Robinson said, “I started working with Linda Pace in 1994 to realize her dream and help build the program. Today, Artpace is a strong organization with a reputation for listening to and supporting artists in the creation of new art. It’s a great honor to lead Artpace through this critical next phase and through our 25th anniversary.”
“Riley Robinson’s leadership puts us in the best position to continue the organization’s forward progress into a sustainable and impactful future,” added Artpace Board Chair Patricia Ruiz-Healy. “Retaining Riley as Artpace’s Director was an important decision met with whole-hearted agreement by the Board because of his 24-year history with the organization. Riley quickly emerged as a natural leadership choice.”
The Board of Directors also added to its membership Teri Grubb, Katie Pace-Halleran, Cruz Ortiz, Cameron Redding, and Margo Sawyer. The group includes two Artpace resident alumni in Ortiz and Sawyer. Pace-Halleran is the niece of late Artpace founder Linda Pace and Director of United Way’s Strong Individuals and Families Impact Council. Redding is a contemporary art collector and Estate & Business Planning Attorney, and Grubb is the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer at South Texas Money Management.
The Artpace Board and staff, led by Robinson, will now focus on the milestone anniversary in 2020, including a strategic fundraising initiative to create an endowment to sustain the residency program well into the future.
