Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Announces Leadership Transition
Los Angeles, CA (February 13, 2019) — The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art announced today that its board of directors and its president have agreed upon a transition in leadership for the next phase of its development. Don Bacigalupi, the museum’s founding president, will transition to a role as special advisor to the founders, while board member John W. McCarter, Jr., will serve as the museum’s interim president.
Dr. Bacigalupi was instrumental in helping guide the expansion of the museum’s collection and in bringing the vision and philosophy of the institution to life.
“On behalf of our board of directors, Mellody and I want to extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation to Don for his remarkable work and tireless efforts,” said George Lucas, co-founder and chairman of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. “Don was essential in helping to formalize our vision and in laying the important groundwork that has brought us to this point. We would not have been able to break ground in Los Angeles without him.”
Dr. Bacigalupi said, “Working alongside a visionary like George Lucas has been one of the highlights of my career. I look forward to continuing to advise George and Mellody as they expand the museum’s world class collection.”
Dr. Bacigalupi joined the museum team in 2014, from his previous role at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, an institution he shepherded through construction and its opening in 2011.
“Don has been a remarkable teacher, and I have learned so much from him as we have embarked on this project,” said Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments and co-founder and member of the board of the museum.
John McCarter has extensive experience in the museum arena. He currently serves on the Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents. From 2015 to 2018, he served as chair and was responsible for overseeing the Smithsonian’s 19 museums. Mr. McCarter is also a life trustee and president emeritus of the Field Museum. During his 16-year tenure, Mr. McCarter oversaw a major expansion of the Field Museum and a significant increase in the scope of its research activities.
Mr. McCarter is an emeritus trustee of the University of Chicago, former trustee of Princeton University and a former member of the board of the Argonne National Laboratory. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Additionally, Mr. McCarter has had a long and distinguished career in business and the public sector and has served on five corporate boards.
“John’s extraordinary depth of experience as a past president of one of the finest natural history museums in the world, as well as his continued leadership at the Smithsonian, will be invaluable as we continue our mission to create a truly one-of-a kind museum,” said Mellody.
The board has launched a global search for a new president.
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