Michael Govan to lead LACMA for six more years

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Michael Govan, who has led the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for five years, has renewed his contract as LACMA director through June 30, 2016.

Govan’s initial contract as museum leader had been due to expire April 1, 2011. In fulfilling that contract, he has earned a $1-million bonus promised when he was hired. His 2008-09 earnings, bonuses and benefits totaled $1.27 million, according to the museum’s most recent available tax return. Of that, $208,000 was a government salary and benefits as a Los Angeles County department head; the rest was paid by the private, nonprofit organization that operates the county-owned museum.

[Updated 5 p.m., Oct. 22]: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated Govans earnings as $1.062 million in 2008-09, including a $162,500 government salary. $1.062 million is his compensation from Museum Associates, the private, nonprofit organization that operates LACMA; Govan’s county earnings were $144,400 salary and $63,200 in benefits, bringing his combined earnings and benefits for the year to $1.27 million.

Govan came to LACMA in April 2006 following 11 years as head of the Dia Art Foundation in Manhattan and Beacon, N.Y.

Read the complete story here.

-- Mike Boehm

Photo, left: Govan with Chris Burden’s ‘Urban Light’ on the LACMA grounds. Credit: Jay L. Clendinen/Los Angeles Times