About the Art Museum

The mission of the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette is to celebrate the power of art to inspire, instruct, challenge, and build community through collections, exhibitions, events, educational and cultural programs.

The Museum’s History

The institution, now known as the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, was founded as the Lafayette Art Association on April 14, 1909. After a “general awakening of art interests all over (the) country and state”, some of Lafayette residents saw a chance to “stimulate and encourage interest in art and to give annual exhibitions, and also to establish and maintain permanent collections of works of art.” Twenty-five citizens, led by Laura Ann Fry, including members of the Art Club, came together at the Lafayette High School at Sixth and Columbia to found the organization. Superior Court Judge Henry Vinton chaired the meeting and was elected President. Laura Ann Fry was elected Vice President. In less than a month, the Association gained 386 members, each paying $1.00 in annual dues.

Laura Anne Fry

Board of Directors

The Art Museum of Greater Lafayette is designated by the IRS as a charitable 501(c)(3) organization. It is governed by a Board of Directors who are elected for a term of three years. They are eligible for two consecutive three-year terms. Museum members elect board nominees at the annual meeting. The Board of Directors is responsible for developing policies and administrating programs within the mission of the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette and hiring the Executive Director. The mission of the Art Museum is “To celebrate the power of art to inspire, challenge and instruct our community through collections, exhibitions, and programs.” The museum has been actively accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1982 and is the only accredited museum in Northwest Indiana.

President
Barry Loftus

Vice President
Christopher Shelmon

Treasurer
Brittany Jones

Board Members
Ebony Barrett, Scott Busch, Kay Conner, Gabrielle Cramer-Barash, Lynne Di Fabio, Charlyne Fabi, Tracy Jones, Penny Keller, Elizabeth Lockrey, Jessica Rebmann, Will Ryan, Terry Stevick, Gloria Weesner, Walter Wilson, Dustin Zufall, Ex-Officio with Voting Privileges: Sue Carr/Linda Sorensen and Jeffrey Love

Secretary
Judith Austin

Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Access Policy

Diversity, inclusion, and equal access are fundamental principles at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. Employment and access to the Art Museum’s facilities, collections, opportunities, and experiences are offered without regard to personal characteristics. These include age, race, disability, religion or creed; sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity; national origin or citizenship; and military or veteran status. For our employees or prospective employees, we do not discriminate based on marital or civil partnership/union; genetic predisposition; employment or caregiver status; pregnancy, or the make-up of one’s family. Victims of stalking, sexual or domestic violence are also protected.

These principles of diversity, inclusion and equal access apply to all aspects of the Art Museum’s operations, across all categories of individuals. Individuals should be able to share in the museum experience, free from biased or demeaning conduct or statements based on their personal characteristics.

The Art Museum endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations to members of the public, employees, and others, provided that such accommodation does not constitute an undue hardship on the museum. Individuals who wish to request accommodation should contact the Executive Director. Individuals with questions or concerns about this policy should contact the Art Museum’s Executive Director or Board President.

The Museum strictly prohibits retaliation against anyone who, in good faith, reports a violation of this policy or participates in an investigation into a potential violation of this policy.

Foundation Board

The Foundation is designated by the IRS as a charitable 509(a)(3)Type I organization. It exists solely to provide financial support and assistance to the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. To that end, the Foundation will receive and acquire assets for the benefit of the Art Museum and will manage and invest the same for preservation, growth, and income production. It is the goal of the Foundation to maximize the long-term financial support of the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette.

President
Jeffrey Love

Vice President
Marianne Rose

Treasurer
Tom Reed

Board Members
Ron Alting, Jim Bodenmiller, Stuart Boehning, Susan Chavers, Ed Chosnek, Angie Curtis, John Dennis, Rob Galbraith, Gary Henriott, Adam Henson, Jos Holman, Sheila Klinker, Grayce Lechtenberg, Inge Maresh, Prella McBride, Marianne Mitten Owen, Sue Holder Price, Carol Purdy, Willie Reed, James Risk III, Tony Roswarski, Steve Schreckengast, Sarah Schwarz, Joseph Seaman, Rachel Shook, Kendall Smith, Sharon Theobald, Laura Vanier, Arthur Vasquez, Ex-Officio with Voting Privileges: Barry Loftus

Secretary
Robert Wu

Museum Staff

Chris McCauley, Executive Director

Christopher started his professional career in a small town (St. Ignace, MI) located just on the edge of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It was his passion for community and leadership that led him to his previous and longstanding profession with the Boy Scouts of America.

As Executive Director, Chris has combined his many areas of interest and talent. His ability to unite communities under the ideals of knowledge, enlightenment, and creativity; and the opportunity to pull our society into the realm of the fascinating and unique have made him a true asset to the Art Museum.

Contact Chris

Andrea Klutzke, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions

Andrea Klutzke venues and galleries and lectured on the processes of artistic achievement and the benefits of those accomplishments. In 2017, the Purdue University alumna earned her MFA with a concentration in material arts and a minor in Art History. During her graduate years at Purdue, she taught ceramics, drawing, and art appreciation. Before her university experience, she spent ten years in the engineering field as a detailer and quality control specialist. She is excited to now be a small part of the big things the future holds for the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette.

Contact Andrea 

Emily Sell, Operations Manager

Emily Sell is a dynamic professional with a passion for nature, creativity, and effective management. She holds an undergraduate degree in marketing from the prestigious Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. After her graduation, Emily embarked on a captivating journey in Indianapolis, where she honed her management skills through various positions, including floristry, event coordination, nonprofit work, and office administration. Her commitment to excellence, creativity, and community engagement serves as a testament to her drive for personal and professional growth. In her free time, Emily indulges in artistic pursuits, taking classes in welding, sculpture, and most recently, the Art Museum's Intro to Pottery.

Contact Emily 

Nathan Dell, Marketing and Events Coordinator

Nathan Dell is a fine art professional with a degree and background in Visual Art Education. Committed to accessible community arts, he decided to pivot the focus of his career to an art museum setting. Nathan uses his background in design and education to effectively market and coordinate the museum’s classes, events, and exhibitions. In his free time, he continues to develop his artistry in his space at The Bindery Artist Studios, located in downtown Lafayette.

Contact Nathan 

Rebecca Brody, Membership Coordinator

After spending over 30 years in free-lance commercial artwork (mostly calligraphy and sign painting) and working in the foster care system, Rebecca Brody is now doing what she always dreamed of: painting watercolors. An artist at heart, her part-time work at the museum is about all the left-brained work she cares to do nowadays. When she’s not painting or teaching watercolor, she attends exercise classes at the YWCA with other artists and tries to avoid eating sweets.

Contact Rebecca 

LaDonna Vohar, Museum Shop Manager

Paducah, Kentucky, is LaDonna’s hometown, although she didn‘t really grow up there because her father was in the Air Force, and they moved around a lot. LaDonna facilitates a Live Model Open Studio, teaches Watercolor at the Museum, and coordinates the “Friday Night Live” monthly programs. She is an accomplished, self-taught artist best known for portraiture, murals, and other paintings in many different media. She is the President of the Wabash Valley Artists Society and a long-time member of Artists’ Own, a local gallery and gift shop. LaDonna enjoys the challenges of new and different projects. She has two sons and a fabulous dog.

Contact LaDonna →

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