Ira Wilson is SWAIA’S new executive director
This February, Ira Wilson joined the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) as its new executive director. Wilson spent 26 years as the lead buyer for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. During his tenure there, he transformed Shumakolowa from a gift shop into an international resource for Native art, in turn providing economic opportunity to a wide group of Native artists and educating the public about Native arts and culture. Wilson is from Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, and was raised in a traditional Navajo way with great influence from his grandmother, a weaver. Wilson takes over the position from Dallin Maybee, who served in the position for nearly four years.
SWAIA board chair Elizabeth Kirk says, “Ira brings decades of experience in business and artistry, as well as a strong dedication to the cause of Native artists and the arts. He will take the organization in a direction which will insure SWAIA continues to evolve, sustaining our mission and vision in the years to come.”