The Board of Directors of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) has appointed Laura Hughes as interim director.
Photo by Andrew Potter.
Laura Hughes is a creative force to be reckoned. As the newly-appointed Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit [MOCAD], she is a new leader at its helm after MOCAD’s Board of directors recently appointed her as interim executive director.
“MOCAD is a reflection of Detroit to the world,” Hughes said in a press release. “I look forward to supporting a dynamic team that is collectively driven to presenting a compelling and nationally-recognized arts program while also keeping attuned to the local Detroit Community.”
Hughes is no stranger to MOCAD, however. She joined the Board of Directors in 2019 and sits on the Executive Committee. She resigned from the Board [effective immediately] and is looking forward to serving MOCAD in this greater capacity.
Founded in 1995, MOCAD has featured exhibitions and programs that delve into contemporary art, bridging Detroit with the global art world, according to its website. MOCAD intends to use art to express itself to nurture social change and human understanding, reflecting the local community, its website also added. And you can’t talk about art in Detroit without tapping into the Black experience.
Hughes said that she has always had a strong affinity for the programs and exhibitions that MOCAD features, including Black artists and powerful pieces.
Hughes has called Detroit home for the last 15 years, and she said that the city is at the “forefront [and always has been] of Black voices.”
“[Detroit has also been at] the intersections of so many challenges that we face and really the resilience,” Hughes said. “We lead the nation in that. … We just have a long legacy of amazing Black leadership. MOCAD is a reflection of Detroit and folks.”
She added that as a servant leader, when you engage in Detroit, you engage in the Black community, which is a testament to the work displayed at MOCAD.
“If you take a look at the exhibitions up now [they are] powerful reflections of people of color’s voices,” she said, adding that she is lucky to touch and support that realm. “I’m coming into the museum that has come into [a] transition time [and is] deeply committed to doing better than before. “We need to continue to be a hub for the Black community. [That is a] top priority for us.”
Hughes is also the founder and principal of Gusto Partners, LLC, which specializes in creating diverse and inclusive environments, social change, and leading cross-sector collaboration, according to a press release.
She also has experience with community-based work as previously serving as program officer with The Skillman Foundation and executive director of the Ruth Ellis Center–a homeless and runaway shelter dedicated to the needs of LGBTQ+ youth. According to the release, Hughes also served as the Vice President of Communications & Community for a Detroit IT and business services corporation, where she supported workforce development for the City of Detroit, talent attraction and retention, and led international communications and community investment strategies.
Elyse Foltyn, chair of the Board of Directors, told the Michigan Chronicle that Hughes is an excellent asset to MOCAD.
“I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to work with Laura on another board and on the MOCAD board during the past few years. I have witnessed her depth, thoughtful consideration, and ability to tackle challenging issues with sensitivity and grace,” Foltyn said in an email. “Following an exhaustive search, I am confident we have found the right person to lead us forward on a positive trajectory. Laura’s expertise in business and the non-processed world will surely serve us well as we begin our search for an executive director in the new year.”
Hughes earned a Bachelor of Arts with High Honors in Anthropology from Brown University and a Master in Public Health, Health Behavior Health Education, from the University of Michigan. She was a 2016 German Marshall Fellow. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Jewish Fund, Friends of the Children-Detroit, and the North End Woodward Community Land Trust.
Hughes said that art institutions have always been at the center of telling stories for justice, inspiration, resilience, legacy, and “our heritage and how that touches contemporary art.
“So it’s our job to reflect [that],” she said, adding that amazing Black leaders in Detroit have mentored her throughout her career who are responsible in part for her growth. “I’m grateful to apply those [lessons] forward to the Museum.”
For more information, go to https://mocadetroit.org/