Grand Marais Art Colony Moves into a Co-Directorship

Grand Marais, MN | November 7, 2018

Lyla Brown was named Executive Director and Ruth Pszwaro Artistic Director of the Grand Marais Art Colony, the longest-lived art colony in Minnesota, established in 1947. The two will co-direct the organization, well-known as a creative retreat destination as well as a Cook County cultural anchor. The Art Colony serves artists and creative seekers at every step in their journey, providing key resources, including mentorship opportunities, residencies, professional practice workshops, and artist-centered events.

Lyla Brown

Ruth Pszwaro, previous Program Director, has already taken on the new role of Artistic Director and has served as Interim Executive Director since July.  She is entering her fifth year of stewarding the Art Colony mission and previously served as its Program Director.

Lyla Brown will join Pszwaro as co-director and as the organization’s Executive Director, on November 16, 2018. Brown comes to Cook County from Kent County, Maryland. Her experience has focused on a variety of issue areas, such as housing, civic engagement, land conservation, youth development and human services through leadership roles in nonprofits and international development over the past 20 years. These engagements have taken the form of capacity building, program planning, and fundraising as well as research and evaluation.

Ruth Pszwaro

From the board of directors:

Collectively, we have many hopes and aspirations and we invite the community to celebrate with us as we move forward.

Together, the co-directors will manage operations, guide the board of directors, and lead strategic planning. While Pszwaro will focus on programmatic development and artistic direction, Brown will oversee communications and external relations, including fundraising and grant writing.

The Art Colony looks forward to continuing its work to advocate for the arts and artists. While it will always remain tethered to the local community and to its long legacy of bringing cultural and economic vitality to the North Shore, the organization also looks to create new regional and national partnerships and initiatives.