James Lemons has been the Executive Director of the LPCA since January, 2013.
Under his guidance, the LPCA has undergone a revitalization of Presenting Programs, Arts Education Activities, and Visual Arts Programs as well as the implementation of new Services to Artists and Organizations leading to a 100% increase in the number of people served each year.
In 2016, James spearheaded the creation of Gallery 46, a visual arts gallery located on Lake Placid’s tourist-heavy Main Street. Representing 125 artists, Gallery 46 has sold more than $2.6M in visual art – with more than $2M being distributed back to artists in commissions.
James has worked with Association of Presenting Arts Professionals, Autopistes Circus Network, PEA Southwest and the Adirondack Nonprofit Network serving as a moderator, speaker and panelist. He has served as a grant reviewer for the New York State Council of the Arts, CNY Arts, Essex County Arts Alliance, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
James serves on the Board and is the former Chair of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, Board Treasurer for Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, and is a Council Member of the New York State Council on the Arts.
Prior to moving to New York, he served as General Manager of Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota, FL. A LORT-D Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre is a five-theatre complex with the fifth largest subscription base in the country. As General Manager, he oversaw the Business, Company Management, I/T, Human Resources, and Virtual Operations of the theatre.
While he was at Florida Studio Theatre, James managed and oversaw the renovation and construction of the Gompertz Theatre – a $7 million dollar renovation of the historic, 100 year old Gompertz Theatre and the construction of the Hegner Theatre Wing which housed the new Court Cabaret Theatre, box office, The Green Room Lobby Restaurant and Bar, dressing rooms, and theatre support facilities.
Prior to Florida Studio Theatre, Mr. Lemons was the Associate Artistic Director and Communications Manager for WaterTower Theatre in Addison, TX. A small professional theatre located fifteen minutes north of downtown Dallas, WaterTower Theatre remains at the forefront in theatre in North Texas for artistic quality. While at WaterTower, Mr. Lemons help expand the subscriber base by 300%, increase the operating budget by 30% and raise the artistic quality of the performances. A professional theatre director for over 10 years, his work has been honored by the Dallas Morning News, Dallas Theatre League, Dallas Fort Worth Theatre Critics Forum and The Column Awards.