Dr. Fred at the WPA

Dr. Frederick P. Ognibene, Deputy Director for Educational Affairs and Strategic Partnerships at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, has been elected Chair of the Board of Directors for Washington Project for the Arts (WPA).

A notable collector of contemporary art and a generous patron of emerging and mid-career artists, Fred Ognibene has twice been a member of the WPA board (1995-2003 and 2008-present). His collection, which he has been cultivating since 1984, includes over 200 works by national and international artists. Many works in his collection have been loaned to museums and arts organizations for exhibition; a number have been donated by Dr. Ognibene to the permanent collection of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

"WPA plays a vital role in promoting excellence in contemporary art throughout the greater Washington area," said Dr. Ognibene. "It's quite an honor to be entrusted with leading this 35-year organization through its next phase of growth and development." Since its inception in 1975, WPA has showcased the work of thousands of artists and has touched hundreds of thousands of visitors and viewers with its programs and projects.

Ognibene succeeds outgoing board chair Andres E. Tremols, co-founder and partner of Vivo Design. Tremols's three-year tenure began with WPA's separation from the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 2007. During his years as board chair, Mr. Tremols reestablished WPA as a fully-independent non-profit organization, rebuilt the Board of Directors, and initiated WPA's long-term Strategic Plan, among other initiatives. "I could not have accomplished so much without the tremendous talent and effort of our entire board, including my successor, Fred Ognibene. With Executive Director Lisa Gold at the helm and Fred steering the board, WPA is in excellent hands." Tremols will remain a Director on the WPA board.

In addition to changes in the leadership role, three new directors have been elected to the WPA board. They are Michael Rankin, Managing Partner of TTR Sotheby's International Realty, DC, MD and VA; Judy J. Sherman, an independent curator and Project Manager/Art Consultant at The Ralls Collection in Washington, DC; and Jocelyn Sigue, an independent producer and writer with a background in broadcast journalism. "I am delighted to welcome this trio of thoughtful, energetic and productive board members," said Fred Ognibene. "They join a very strong and effective board - WPA should anticipate very exciting results."