Institute chief leaving LACMA

Paul Holdengraber, director and founder of the Institute for Art & Cultures at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, resigned after five years in the job. In a short e-mail, Holdengraber thanked his “colleagues at LACMA, the Board of Trustees and the wonderful public for their enthusiastic and loyal support.” His resignation will take effect May 3.

As institute director, Holdengraber hosted discussions on art and culture with such participants as Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, opera director Peter Sellars, painters David Hockney and R.B. Kitaj, and filmmaker Nathaniel Kahn.

A museum spokesman said no decision has been made on the institute’s future.

Louise Roug