Duane Lucia Named West End Museum Board President

Boston, MA—Local historian, community organizer and arts aficionado Duane Lucia has been named President of The West End Museum Board of Directors. In his new role, Lucia will provide greater leadership in addition to his range of experience at the Museum and expertise on West End history and culture. (Media note: an image of Lucia can be downloaded here under “more actions.”)

Lucia served on the Board of The Old West End Housing Corporation when it first began doing business as The West End Museum. In 2010, the Museum became its own nonprofit entity, and Lucia was elected Board Secretary. In January 2011, he additionally took on the role of Curator of Exhibits, boosting the number, range and quality of the Museum’s shows and related programs. To help provide continuity of leadership during a period of significant growth and change, Lucia served as Executive Director for 18 months in 2012 and 2013. When he stepped down from this role, he continued as Curator and also created an operating manual that defined the structure and management of the Museum. It’s noteworthy that Lucia took on these responsibilities in a volunteer capacity.

“Everyone in this community is a stakeholder in its well-being—from businesses to old West End families to new West Enders to other institutions—and we at the Museum take our stakeholder role very seriously,” says Lucia.

As a historian and a current West End resident, Lucia has a unique perspective on the community as it was before urban renewal and as it is today. His work on behalf of the neighborhood stretches far beyond the Museum. Lucia founded the West End Community Center and the West End Children’s Festival, and served as President of the West End Civic Association. He also co-founded Gallery East, an avant-garde arts center and performance space in Boston’s Leather District (now a virtual museum at Gallery East Network).

As Board President, Lucia will be recognized as the public face of the Museum with its members, its community and its sponsors. At present, the West End Museum does not pay an Executive Director. Lucia says he will continue his work as Curator while increasing his responsibilities on the Museum Board. “I’m basically the default Executive Director, the person in charge of the day-to-day operations.” says Lucia. “The Board as a whole ensures fiscal responsibility and the financial health of the organization.”

Lucia says he will continue the focus on programming, membership and funding. He is working towards an endowment and other reserves to provide a stronger operating budget and ensure the prosperity of the Museum well into the future.

About the West End Museum:
The West End Museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation and interpretation of the history and culture of the West End  neighborhood. The Museum’s permanent exhibit, “The Last Tenement,” highlights the immigrant history of the neighborhood through its decimation under Urban Renewal in 1959; two additional galleries feature rotating exhibits. The Museum is located  near North Station at 150 Staniford St. Suite 7. Hours: Tuesday – Friday 12:00pm – 5:00pm; Saturday 11:00am – 4:00pm. Admission is free.