Dawn Laurant has been named the new art programs director for VALA Eastside.

Marianne Johnson, VALA’s former art programs director, will be transitioning to a part-time project manager within the nonprofit arts organization and will be concentrating on the production of the Redmond Arts Festival.

Laurant comes to VALA with an extensive background in the arts, spanning a 30-year career working with museums and nonprofit organizations as a curator, arts educator and exhibit developer. Her previous work includes exhibits and programs at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Papalote Museum, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, the Oakland Museum, and the Marin County History Museum. Laurant is also a fine art appraiser and holds a certificate from the American Society of Appraisers. Most recently, she worked as an auction specialist for Pacific Galleries in Seattle and a senior art broker with Art Brokerage Inc., specializing in building private and corporate collections in fine and contemporary art. Laurant is currently chair of the Kirkland Cultural Arts Commission and co-chair of the Young Artists Exhibition at Summerfest, 2016.

“VALA Eastside would like to thank Marianne Johnson for her extensive dedication to growing the organization’s community as we hand over the role to Dawn.” said VALA co-founder, Jessica Lambert. “We’re very excited to welcome Dawn to VALA’s staff.”

On her new role, Laurant added, “I’m looking forward to working with our talented, local artists and the Eastside community in my new role at VALA.”

Laurant has begun her transition to her new role.