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Elsbeth Dowd
Executive Director: elsbeth@lymeartassociation.org
Paul Michael
Gallery Director & Curator: paul@lymeartassociation.org
Emily Wassink
Business Manager: emily@lymeartassociation.org
Jolie Collins
Communications Manager: jolie@lymeartassociation.org
Sara Drought Nebel
Gallery Associate: sara@lymeartassociation.org
Sarah Kentoffio
Gallery Assistant: sarahk@lymeartassociation.org
Franceska Nebel
Development Assistant: franki@lymeartassociation.org
Contact Info
Address
90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371
Phone
860-434-7802
Gallery Hours
Tuesdays - Sundays from 10 am - 5 pm
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LAA IN THE NEWS
OLD LYME RECEIVES RECOGNITION AS ONE OF THE BEST SMALL TOWN ARTS SCENES IN THE U.S.A!
In March 2025, Old Lyme has been recognized as one of the top two “Best Small Town Arts Scenes” by USA Today! Watch NBC CT’s piece on what makes the Lyme Art Association and Old Lyme a great place for artists and art enthusiasts!
Old Lyme: One of the Top Small Town Art Scenes in America
Thank you Niantic Neighbors Magazine for featuring our Executive Director in your December 2024 issue! Click here to read.
A New Hand at the Helm
Old Lyme, CT, 2022: In the historic district of Old Lyme, the iconic Lyme Art Association is the oldest of what has become a very vibrant collection of art and culture institutions. In recent years the Lyme Art Association has refurbished its exterior, celebrated the centennial of its construction, presented nationally acclaimed exhibits of representational art, and offered a community and educational and enrichment opportunities for artists and art lovers at all levels. The Association is flourishing in a way that may only be rivaled by its early years when the renowned Lyme Art Colony artists formed the Association. It is from this very solid position that the Association is undergoing a change in leadership.
After twelve very successful years at Lyme Art Association, Laurie Pavlos will step down from her position as Executive Director. Laurie joined the Lyme Art Association staff in 2010 as business manager. Later, she led as part of the Executive Team joined by Gallery Manager, Jocelyn Zallinger and Development Director, Gary Parrington before assuming the Executive Director position in 2018. Throughout, she has been an enthusiastic supporter of LAA’s mission and values, and guided the organization through significant growth, construction, and the disruption of the pandemic.
As of July 1, Elsbeth Dowd will succeed Laurie as Executive Director. The Lyme Art Association has the good fortune to have a very qualified and able successor to Laurie already on staff. For the past two years, Elsbeth has been our Development Director. Upon joining the Association staff in early 2019, she wasted no time in enhancing our communications, starting with social media, and working with Laurie to help our broader community become more familiar with our organization and mission and to continue to build relationships with community partners, sponsors, members, and donors.
Prior to joining the Lyme Art Association, Elsbeth was the Executive Director of the Oysterponds Historical Society in Orient, New York, and before that was Museum Registrar at the Sam Noble Museum in Oklahoma. Elsbeth received her bachelor’s degree in art and archaeology from Princeton University and her doctoral degree in anthropology from the University of Oklahoma.
When you visit the gallery, you are likely to see some other new faces as well! Paul Michael, a graduate of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, has taken over the role of Gallery Manager from Jocelyn Zallinger, who retired. Jolie Collins is the Association’s new Communications Manager, and Sarah Kentoffio and Franceska Nebel assist in the gallery and staff offices.