The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (SAMFA) has announced the official retirement of Howard Taylor, its former President and CEO, who has served as Development Director and President Emeritus since January.
Howard Taylor
In August 2022, SAMFA announced that Alex Freeman would succeed Mr. Taylor, the institution’s founding director, when he stepped down from his role on January 1, 2023. At this point Mr. Taylor, who had been Director of the museum since 1984, took on an advisory role with the institution to assist with the leadership transition. As of August 1, 2023, Mr. Taylor has officially retired.
Alex Freeman (left) and Howard Taylor (right). Image courtesy of the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts
During Mr. Taylor’s tenure at SAMFA, the museum received the American Institute of Architects National Service Award (1995) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Museum Service Award (2003). Additionally, Mr. Taylor received the Texas Association of Museum’s President’s Award (2004), the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award (2005), and the John L. Nau III award for Excellence in Museums (2011) from the Texas Historical Commission.
In a press release, Mr. Taylor remarked, “It has been my privilege to provide leadership and help build this deeply community-engaged museum and work with all the wonderful people I have come to know in San Angelo and the Concho Valley. I look forward to the continued progress and exciting future that I foresee for our museum.”
4 comments
While I don’t live in San Angelo, I have worked with Howard on state related art projects and he has engrained himself into the community of San Angelo in a way few museum directors are able to, benefiting the museum and San Angelo. A talented man.
So glad that Glasstire highlighted Howard’ remarkable tenure at SAMFA. Because of his contributions to SAMFA and the art of Texas, he also recently received the 2023 Bill and Linda Reeves Lifetime Achievement Award from the Center for the Advancement and Study of Early Texas Art (CASETA).
It was my good fortune to meet Howard early in my involvement as a collector of early TEXAS ART. Through many meetings, workshops, exhibitions and just plain having fun Howard was a great guy, smart advisor, true friend and a delight to know. Glad he is being acknowledged as one who has advanced the SAMFA image and helped promote the study and collecting of early Texas Art through his contribution to CASETA
THANKS TO HOWARD TAYLOR! The San Angelo Museum of Art- a great museum due to Howard’s vision and leadership- the first to acquire one of my large sculptures to be included in what has become a major ceramics collection. His vision/support/appreciation has helped countless artists in the world of ceramics. Howard is a wonderful man.