Executive Director Luis Purón to Depart the Rockport Center for the Arts

The Rockport Center for the Arts (RCA) has announced the upcoming departure of its Executive Director, Luis Purón. 

Luis Purón. Image courtesy of the Rockport Center for the Arts.

In a press release, Lucy Nye, the RCA Board of Directors President, remarked, “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to express our profound gratitude to Luis for his extraordinary leadership over the past decade. Luis has not only transformed the Rockport Center for the Arts into a vibrant, resilient organization but has also significantly contributed to our community and the arts in Texas. His vision and dedication have elevated RCA to new heights, expanding its reach, resources, and impact in ways that will resonate for years to come.”

Rockport Center for the Arts

Mr. Purón joined RCA in May 2015 and holds the title of longest-serving leader in the organization’s 56-year history. During his tenure, Mr. Purón oversaw the $13 million capital campaign, which funded the construction of RCA’s new 1.2-acre campus following the destruction of its original facility due to damage from Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The organization has seen many successes under Mr. Purón’s leadership, including tripling its membership, growing annual attendance from 22,000 to 50,000 visitors, increasing its budget fivefold, and boosting the RCA’s overall net worth by eight times. 

Mr. Purón explained, “During the planning phase for the capital project, one of the criticisms we encountered was a deep concern that we would not be able to sustain the new facilities financially. That concern lingered within me, so I made a personal commitment to remain in my position for two years after the project’s completion to demonstrate that financial viability was possible.”

On Thursday, January 2, Mr. Purón announced his decision to depart the organization in an executive session of the RCA Board of Directors. In a statement, he noted that he had achieved every goal he had set to accomplish a decade ago when he stepped into the position of Executive Director. Mr. Purón will step down in May, though an exact date has not yet been announced. He will address the community during “The Financial State of the Rockport Center for the Arts” annual meeting and plans to auction his contemporary art collection to support the organization’s endowment. 

Mr. Purón noted, “I have forged a 44-year career built on a foundation of authenticity, hard work, and the courage to take calculated risks. As I prepare to leave, I take pride in knowing that I dedicated the best years of my professional life to Rockport and contributed to making my community a better place.”