Claremont Museum of Art Appoints William Moreno as Executive Director

Claremont, CA (December 11, 2006)—The Board of Trustees of the Claremont Museum of Art today announced the appointment of William Moreno as executive director. Moreno will lead efforts to establish the new museum, scheduled to open in early 2007 in the historic citrus Packing House, which is part of the west Village expansion project.

“After an extensive search for an executive director, I am very enthusiastic about the selection of Bill Moreno,” said Marguerite McIntosh, chairperson of the board of trustees. “With his background and interest in art, he is eminently gifted to develop the museum into an outstanding expression of our community’s unique cultural identity.”

Moreno, who previously served as executive director of The Mexican Museum in San  Francisco, brings a combination of business and arts experience to the Claremont Museum of Art. After spending 12 years in the international financial services industry, he established a fine arts consulting business and served as director of the Aguirre Gallery in San Mateo. During his three-year tenure as executive director of The Mexican Museum, he oversaw one of the largest collections of Latino and Mexican art in the country and headed a $30 million capital campaign to raise money for a new building in downtown San Francisco. Moreno is on the board of the California Association of Museums.

“Bill brings a firm foundation in the arts, a very successful track record in operating a museum and the business know-how we need to succeed financially,” said Frank Chabre, treasurer and museum trustee. “He also has demonstrated an ability to work with foundations, service groups, and governmental and educational agencies to develop successful initiatives and programs. We’re confident he’s going to do a great job in getting us up and running.”

Moreno said he looks forward to working with the board of trustees, volunteers and members of the community. “It’s not often you get an opportunity to help start a museum. What I’m most impressed with, and one of the reasons I wanted to come here, is the commitment of the board and the volunteer organizing committees – their enthusiasm and commitment is quite inspiring. They’ve worked hard to launch the museum and lay the groundwork for broad community involvement, which will be critical to our success.

“With our great space in the Packing House and location in the heart of Claremont near the Metrolink station and the colleges, we have the potential to become an important regional influence and an educational forum and center for all members of the community. We plan to embrace Claremont’s history in the arts, building on that tradition and ultimately working to expand the scope of the museum well beyond the region into the international arena.”

About the Claremont Museum of Art Opening Exhibitions

 The Claremont Museum of Art is scheduled to open early 2007 with a retrospective of the work of internationally renowned painter Karl Benjamin and an exhibition introducing art donated to the permanent collection.

A Conversation with Color: Karl Benjamin, Paintings 1953-1995 will feature nearly 40 paintings that trace the artist’s remarkable career, from his early experiments with cubism to works that represent his role as one of the founders of “abstract classicism.”

Art work donated to the permanent collection will be displayed in Building a Legacy: Founding a Museum, Building a Collection. The exhibition, which will highlight the origins of the museum, will present work by Millard Sheets, James Fuller, Jean Ames, Harrison McIntosh, Betty Davenport Ford, Phil Dike, Roland Reiss, Norm Hines, Milford Zornes, Jack Zajac and other notable local artists.

Housed in the historic Packing House in the west Village expansion, the museum has three exhibit areas, totaling 3,500 square feet, as well as a store, offices and a sculpture garden.

About the Museum

The Claremont Museum of Art is a community cornerstone for collecting, preserving, sharing and celebrating the legacy of Claremont artists and their most significant and enduring work. It is also a catalyst for providing the community with excellence in art education at all levels. The Museum’s outreach program will promote learning by developing and providing specialized classes and lectures, a resource library, activities and events, visits to the schools, tours, and a wide assortment of print and on-line materials. The Claremont Museum of Art is a nonprofit California corporation, fully tax exempt under IRS code 501(c)(3).