Veronique LeMelle

executive director, Boston Center for the Arts

Veronique LeMelle joined the staff of the Boston Center of the Arts as Executive Director in January 2009. Before coming to Boston, lead the Louisiana Division of the Arts from the Spring of 2005. As the Division's Executive Director, she successfully restructured Louisiana's Grants Program and implemented a streamlined grant application process. During her tenure, she was also instrumental in creating the structure and mission for Louisiana's first private cultural foundation, the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation. Before moving south, Ms. Le Melle worked for four years in the Office of Queens Borough President as the Director of Culture and Tourism. Her responsibilities included the oversight of cultural policy, grants administration and the development of tourism strategies for the Borough of Queens. Her charge was to support and advise both the established Queens cultural institutions and new community-based arts groups who provide vital services within their neighborhoods. She was also responsible for the oversight and preservation of the borough's historic houses and landmarks. As for her role in the borough's tourism economy, Ms. Le Melle was able to create strategic linkages between the hospitality sector and our cultural community. This often entailed facilitating dialogue between our local economic retail sectors and our resident independent artists. From 1992 until October 2001, Ms. Le Melle served as the Executive Director of Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, Inc. (JCAL) which currently is enjoying its third decade as the premiere cultural and educational Center in Southeastern Queens. She first joined JCAL in 1990 as a management consultant before being appointed Deputy Director for Programs six months into her tenure. As Deputy Director for Programs, Ms. Le Melle was responsible for supervision of public programs and fundraising. Her initiatives brought about stabilization in the Center's budget and increased revenue 143% in seven years. As Executive Director, Ms. Le Melle was responsible for the overall direction of the Center's programs, operations and financial management while still maintaining contact with the Southeastern Queens community as the Center's chief community liaison. Prior to JCAL, Ms. Le Melle was the Administrative Director of Children's Art Carnival, Executive Director of Red Hook Arts and Program Associate at the New York State Council on the Arts. Ms. Le Melle is a former member of the Arts & Business Council's Board of Trustees, as well as, the national Boards of both ArtTable and Grantmakers in the Arts. A native of Queens, New York, Ms. Le Melle holds an MPA in Public Policy & Administration from Columbia University-School of International and Public Affairs; an MFA in Performing Arts Management from Brooklyn College and a BA in Economics/Business Administration from Colorado College. She is married and a mother of two, daughter Taylor age 21 and son Gaelen age 16.