Leonard Riggio Named Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dia Center for the Arts

Posted on December 4, 1998

Dia Center for the Arts has appointed Leonard Riggio, chairman of Barnes & Noble, Inc. and a major New York collector and philanthropist, as the chairman of its board of trustees. Dia is one of the most vital players in the contemporary art field today and has been a major artistic innovator for over two decades. Mr. Riggio replaces Charles Wright of Seattle.

"Leonard Riggio's generous spirit and talents will shape Dia's future with the same conviction and ambition of its founders," said Michael Govan, director of Dia Center for the Arts. "Len's gift of the Richard Serra sculptures last year - Dia's first major acquisition since the Menil family patronage ended in 1983 - opened a new chapter in our history. Dia's trustees and staff look forward to his dynamic leadership."

"I want to congratulate Charles Wright for leading an important fundraising drive, which has doubled Dia's endowment, and for the growth of Dia's diverse programs," said Leonard Riggio. "I look forward to helping create a permanent facility for Dia's extraordinary collection of art of the 1960s and 70s, and continuing its tradition of important experimentation in the arts."

Mr. Riggio is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Barnes & Noble, Inc. He also serves on the boards of the Children's Defense Fund, WNET, Poets & Writers, Brooklyn Tech Foundation, National Italian American Foundation, and is vice chairman of the Fifth Avenue Association.

Charles Wright was chairman for the past three years and, prior to that, executive director of Dia for nine years. He headed Dia's major endowment and stabilization drive funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Brown Foundation, and individuals.

At the same time as Mr. Riggio's appointment as chair, Ann Tenenbaum was elected vice chair. Ms. Tenenbaum, a prominent figure in the art world, has been a member of Dia's board for the last three and a half years. She is a member of the boards of Sarah Lawrence College, Film Society of Lincoln Center, Bard College Center for Curatorial Studies, and the Museum of the American Indian.

Dia Center for the Arts is a tax-exempt charitable organization. Established in 1974, the organization has become one of the largest in the United States dedicated to contemporary art and culture. In fulfilling this commitment, Dia sustains diverse programming in visual arts, poetry, education, and critical discourse and debate.