Thousand Oaks, Calif. – The California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks (CMATO) has appointed notable Conejo Valley business and community leaders, Larry Janss and Susan Kelly, to its Board of Directors. The new appointments expand the museum’s Board to thirteen voting members.
“Larry and Susan join us at a pivotal time in CMATO’s history as we prepare to embark on a new phase of growth and opportunity,” said Tony Principe, CMATO Chairman. “Their longtime service to the Conejo Valley, coupled with their dedication to CMATO’s mission of creating meaningful engagement with the arts, will ensure that we continue to serve as a vibrant cultural institution that brings world-class art and ideas to our community and beyond.”
Recent, growing support from local and regional art, business, philanthropy and community leaders signals the important role of CMATO in the region.
The Board appointments follow CMATO’s recent announcement that it will relocate from its current location on Thousand Oaks Boulevard to The Oaks – A Macerich Property, on November 8. The new location significantly expands the museum’s gallery and public space and will support enhanced exhibitions, robust educational programs and greater visitor accessibility.
“CMATO has brought community and civic engagement to the fore with dynamic exhibits and programming that inspire imagination and foster human connection. The museum’s mission of providing new ways to engage the public with art has transformed the Conejo Valley’s cultural landscape and brought a new vitality to the region,” said Janss. “I am excited to help CMATO usher in a new era of accomplishment, one which charts a path to deeper audience engagement, financial sustainability and local, regional and national renown.”
Added Kelly, “CMATO has grown to become a center for the discovery and celebration of contemporary art. I am honored to help the museum build on its many strengths as we enter a new and momentous chapter of its history, and to ensure CMATO continues to play a role in the life of the community it was founded to serve.”
Board Member Backgrounds
Janss, a fifth-generation Californian and descendant of one of Thousand Oaks’ founding families, is a respected entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic leader and a longtime supporter and patron of the arts. Janss served on the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Board of Governors and is a founding chairman of the Gold Coast Performing Arts Center. He is a founder of the Liberty Hill Foundation, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that supports grassroots community organizing, leadership and social justice. An accomplished photographer and avid art collector, Janss established the Four Friends Gallery in Thousand Oaks, which specializes in vintage and fine art photography. He has served as director of the Ventura County Community Foundation, the New West Symphony and the Alliance for the Arts.
Kelly is a longtime Conejo Valley resident who believes that art serves as a catalyst for bringing communities together. Receiving her degree in fine arts while studying in France, Kelly has kept her love for art alive through the lens of her camera and through various artistic mediums including painting and writing. Recently retired as Chief of Ventura County’s Behavioral Health Department Youth & Family Services, Kelly has developed art therapy programs for various organizations throughout Ventura County. She has served on the Ventura County Behavioral Health Board, Casa Pacifica Angels and is currently a trustee for Community Conscience. Kelly holds a teaching credential in art.
About CMATO:
The California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks (CMATO) is a cultural institution dedicated to engaging, educating and uplifting the human spirit through the palette of art. Established in 2008, the museum showcases established and emerging contemporary artists, with a unique focus on participatory art. As part of its mission to connect people to creativity, ideas and to each other, CMATO features rotating temporary exhibitions, artist lectures and educational programs that foster discussion, participation and an appreciation for the visual arts. To learn more or to become a museum member, visit http://www.cmato.org