HUNTINGTON, NY.- The Executive Director of The Heckscher Museum of Art, Erik Neil, has announced that he will step down, effective August 1, 2009, in order to pursue an academic position with the University of Palermo, Italy, and to complete his book on Sicilian architecture. Dr. Neil has served as Director of the Museum since 2006, and helped supervise the recent, much acclaimed restoration of the Museum building that has been the home of The Heckscher since 1920. He also focused new attention on the permanent collection and broadened the spectrum of the special exhibitions presented at The Heckscher. In the interim, the Museum will be guided by Skip Show as Acting Director. A search for a new Director will commence immediately. Dr. Neil will continue to be associated with the Museum and will be a guest curator of the upcoming exhibition, “Arcadia to Suburbia: Architecture on Long Island 1930-2010,” which will document the works of major 20th century figures such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Philip Johnson and Marcel Breuer in the region. Dr. Neil will also edit the catalog being prepared in connection with the exhibition. The Museum looks forward to this opportunity for a continued relationship with Dr. Neil; and wishes him continued success in his future endeavors.