Muriel Maffre to Depart Museum of Performance + Design for LINES Ballet

The Board of Trustees of the Museum of Performance + Design (MP+D) announces that Muriel Maffre will leave her position as MP+D Executive Director, effective November 15 2017.

During her five-year tenure with MP+D, Maffre provided executive leadership focused on organizational positioning and capacity building, leading the organization through a relocation, a refocusing of its mission and operations, a stabilization of its finances, artists activations, and numerous large-scale preservation and conservation projects.

"It has been a great pleasure and privilege directing MP+D through these challenging and exciting 5 years," says Maffre. "I believe the organization is in a stronger position now and am looking forward to following its future developments in the hands of a new leadership team."

Located in San Francisco, the Museum of Performance + Design serves as an archive and a platform for the performing arts. Created B. Russell Hartley, a dancer and designer with San Francisco Ballet, and developed without interruption for more than 70 years, the archive stands out as one of the largest collections of performance and theatrical design materials in the nation.

Maffre is known for her celebrated career with San Francisco Ballet where she was a Principal Dancer for 17 years. She retired in 2007 with a Farewell Gala and turned to dance education, the arts, and public humanities working with organizations such as Aurora Theater, San Francisco Ballet, Oakland Museum of California, Cantor Arts Center, and Richmond Art Center. She also served as a Lecturer at TAPS, Dance Division, Stanford University (2009-2013).

Maffre earned a Master's in Museum Studies from John F. Kennedy University and holds a BA in Performing Arts from St. Mary's College. Her recognitions include a Medal of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, a Gold Medal from Paris International Ballet Competition and two Isadora Duncan Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Individual Performance. She is a graduate from the Paris Opera Ballet School and the National Conservatory of Music and Dance, Paris.

Maffre will join Alonzo King LINES Ballet as its new Chief Executive Director, effectice November 15, 2017. This appointment marks a new leadership at LINES Ballet and coincides with the organization's upcoming 35th Anniversary Season. The Board of Trustess of the Museum of Performance + Design will be handling the executive transition with a formal search for a new Executive Director and with the support of a transition management firm.

The mission of the Museum of Performance + Design is to keep the unfolding history of the performing arts in the San Francisco Bay Area alive. We collect, preserve, and make accessible materials on performance and theater design to support learning, appreciation, and creativity within a world-wide community of artists, researchers, and the general public. In the past 5 years, with the support of the NEA, California State Library, IMLS, and Dance Heritage Coalition, MP+D completed several archival projects including processing and digitizing 1,000 images and documents from dance luminaries Anna Halprin and Lew Christensen. In the past 15 years, MP+D has processed 3,100 linear feet of materials, responded to 52,000+ inquiries and digitized 10,000 documents for broad public access. MP+D is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For further information on collections and programs visit www.mpdsf.org or call 415.741.3531.

Pictured: Muriel Maffre by Steven Gregory Photography