Executive Director Amanda Lahikainen to Lead Concord Museum
David Cunningham Named OMAA’s Interim Executive Director
Ogunquit, Maine, February 3, 2026—The Ogunquit Museum of American Art (OMAA) announces that current Executive Director Dr. Amanda Lahikainen will become the Edward W. Kane Executive Director of the Concord Museum in Massachusetts, departing her current role on March 15, 2026. David Cunningham, OMAA’s current Director of Advancement, will become Interim Executive Director of the Museum upon her departure.
Lahikainen began her tenure as Executive Director of OMAA in May 2020. Under her leadership, the Museum nearly doubled in size, investing in full-time staff positions, education, nationally significant exhibitions, collaborations, financial stability, and community engagement.
Says Karyn Morin, President of OMAA’s Board of Trustees, “Under Amanda’s guidance, the museum has achieved greater levels of professionalism, visibility, and artistic excellence. We are deeply grateful for her years of dedication and the remarkable growth she has championed and for leaving us in a much stronger position.”
Morin continues, “During this transition, we are fortunate and grateful to David Cunningham. His deep understanding of the Museum’s mission and his strong leadership will ensure continuity and stability as we prepare for the next chapter in OMAA’s future.” The Board of Trustees will form a committee to identify its next steps.
Lahikainen explains, “The decision was bittersweet. I am proud of my time at OMAA over the past six years and of the teams—staff and Board—who helped us accomplish so much. I look forward to future collaborations with OMAA and to returning for events at its truly unique coastal location. I am also excited to lead the Concord Museum, a vibrant institution, and to begin a new leadership role.”
As Interim Executive Director, David Cunningham brings decades of management experience in the corporate world to OMAA. He joined the Museum’s staff in October 2023. Cunningham explains, “I’m grateful to the Board and to Amanda for her steady leadership over the past six years and the strong foundation we have today. I’m excited to work with this talented team to build on that momentum as OMAA continues to grow and to celebrate Ogunquit’s unique role in modern and contemporary American art.”
Looking ahead, the Ogunquit Museum has planned one of its most ambitious years to date in 2026, presenting the work of world-renowned artist Hank Willis Thomas alongside, for the first time, his students and members of his studio in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The exhibition Looking for America: Hank Willis Thomas and His Studio highlights the power of creative communities, while asking the timely question: What does it mean to look for America, and whose America are we seeking?
Three additional special exhibitions, along with guest lectures by such renowned artists as Cara Romero, and a robust slate of programs, special events, and community collaborations, will make for a truly remarkable year ahead.
ABOUT OGUNQUIT MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART (OMAA)
Opened in 1953, OMAA was founded by the artist Henry Strater. The museum shares close historic and geographic ties to one of the earliest modern arts communities in the United States. OMAA houses a permanent collection of paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, and photographs from the late 1800s to the present. The museum showcases American art by mounting modern and contemporary exhibitions and accompanying educational programming and events. OMAA sits on approximately three acres of gardens right on the water with stunning panoramic views of Maine’s iconic coves and outcroppings. The museum is open for the 2026 season from April 10 through November 15. For more information, visit ogunquitmuseum.org.
Media Contact: Meg Blackburn, meg@blackburncreative.com
