Laura E. Burnham Email & Phone Number

Providing strategies and effective tools for innovation and change to cultural nonprofits and creative businesses. Multiple clients including Abington Art Center, TechGirlz and Delaware Center for Horticulture.

Providing planning and interim management for the reorganization and stabilization of the organization. With partner Ivy Silver, leading the board through a process of scenario planning, business modeling and program development with Penn State University in creating a maker/innovation center. Project manager for extensive facility upgrades.

Philadelphia Pa

Managing public art projects for artist Meg Saligman, including Knotted Grotto, a major installation in honor of the visit of Pope Francis at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

Planning and project management services to the Borough of Lansdale for the redevelopment of a former Masonic Temple into an multi-discipline arts center with dual mission to engage the community and contribute to the economic development of main street. Business planning phase included facilitating steering committee and community engagement, program development, financial planning (for startup and operations), advising the architectural team to assure appropriate design for intended artistic programs, writing a full planning report and presentations to the public/borough officials. Second phase included recruiting and training a 311 Arts board, implementing communications strategies and systems, grant writing including RACP proposal, community engagement and working with fundraising consultants to lay groundwork for a capital campaign. Provided mission and vision workshops for both 311 Arts and Discover Lansdale boards.

CEO responsible for leading a visual arts center and 27-acre sculpture park in suburban Philadelphia, providing vision, artistic direction and overall management of financial, educational and human resources to serve a broad audience and promote the institution’s regional and national identity. During this period, the organization experienced significant growth including multiple capital renovation and expansion projects to the Art Center's historic building and the implementation of a master plan to transform 27 acres of public land into a cultural campus. The Center was selected for the Philadelphia Cultural Leadership Program of The Pew Charitable Trusts and received the Excellence in Nonprofit Management Award from the Arts & Business Council of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Responsible for development, budgeting, planning and execution of all educational and curatorial programs including Fine Art Studio School, Community Arts Initiative programs, Gallery and Sculpture Garden. Supervise program department staff including 40 faculty, establish and coordinate Studio Department Heads and Curatorial Review panel. Member of Building Committee formulating short and long-term facility plans. Designer of AAC publications.

Curator of gallery and coordinator for Sculpture Garden, grantwriting for exhibition programs, design and production of all AAC publications, direct daily operations of overall Center, supervise Gallery Shop management, manage and design computer systems, coordinate volunteers.

Coordinated gallery exhibitions and directed activities of retail shop

Ms, Community And Regional Planning

Thesis titled, Creating Creative Assets for the Suburbs: Planning for Economic Development using Arts and Culture

Ba, Art History, Anthropology