New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs

Charlie Lockwood named executive director of Museum of International Folk Art

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2023

MEDIA CONTACT
Daniel Zillmann
505-670-4404
daniel.zillmann@dca.nm.gov

Santa Fe, NM – New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) proudly announces that Charlie Lockwood has been appointed to serve as executive director of Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) on Museum Hill in Santa Fe. Lockwood will begin in this role on June 24, 2023. 

As executive director, Lockwood will be responsible for steering the museum and upholding its dedication to shaping a humane world by connecting people through creative expression and artistic tradition. He will supervise a dedicated staff of 28 curators, educators, and other museum professionals who are responsible for the preservation, protection, and presentation of the museum’s collection. Lockwood will collaborate with other NMDCA divisions, Museum of New Mexico Board of Regents, International Folk Art Foundation, and Museum of New Mexico Foundation, including Friends of Folk Art. He will manage a facility that includes the museum, library, auditorium, and outdoor event spaces, and will also oversee a robust volunteer program, docents, and a group of research associates.  

“I am deeply honored to be named Executive Director of Museum of International Folk Art,” said Lockwood. “Since its founding, MOIFA has demonstrated the unique power of folk and traditional art to connect people from diverse geographies, perspectives, and cultures. I am thrilled for the opportunity to collaborate with the museum’s exemplary team and partners, and to dedicate my energy to one of the premier institutions of Santa Fe and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.”  

Charlie Lockwood has over a decade of experience as a nonprofit arts administrator and public folklorist. He holds an MA in Ethnomusicology from UC Santa Barbara, where he played the oud with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble and did research with the Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans. As the Executive Director of Texas Folklife, the National Endowment for the Arts state-designated folklife program of Texas, Lockwood oversaw a variety of flagship public programs and initiatives, including an archival preservation project to organize, digitize, and ultimately disseminate the organization’s rich archival holdings dating from 1984. Over the last several years Lockwood has spearheaded programs focusing on the intersections of folk and traditional arts and health, including a military veterans folklore and storytelling initiative with support from NEA Creative Forces and Hechos, No Miedo (Facts, Not Fear), a covid-19 PSA Series in partnership with a variety of central Texas partners.   

“Charlie’s leadership skills, along with his expertise in folklore and ethnomusicology and years of demonstrated success in building coalitions with diverse communities, will come as a great benefit to Museum of International Folk Art,” said Debra Garcia y Griego, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. “He has a deep understanding of the field and will serve as a wonderful ambassador of the museum to visitors and collaborators from across New Mexico and throughout the world.” 

Lockwood’s appointment is a result of a national search conducted by the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico in close collaboration with NMDCA and the Museum of New Mexico Foundation.  

About New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs  Created in 1978 by the New Mexico Legislature, the Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) is New Mexico’s cultural steward, charged with preserving and showcasing the state’s cultural riches. With its eight museums, eight historic sites, arts, archaeology, historic preservation, and library programs, NMDCA is one of the largest and most diverse state cultural agencies in the nation. Together, the facilities, programs, and services of the Department support a $5.6 billion cultural industry in New Mexico. 


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Charlie Lockwood

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