MEDIA CONTACT:
Vanessa Ormsby
(361) 729-5519 / vanessa@rockportartcenter.com
KAREN ERNST APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ROCKPORT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Current RCA deputy director takes over top spot June 1
ROCKPORT, Texas (Mar. 11, 2025) — The Rockport Center for the Arts (RCA) Board of Directors has appointed RCA deputy director Karen Ernst as the next executive director, effective June 1. Ernst will take the reins from current executive director, Luis Purón, who recently announced he is stepping down at the end of May.
“We are excited to announce Karen Ernst as the new executive director of Rockport Center for the Arts," said RCA Board of Directors President Lucy Nye. "With her deep understanding of the organization’s operational needs, Karen will provide a strong foundation of continuity during this leadership succession. As the Board of Directors work alongside both Luis and Karen to guide the Art Center through a thoughtful transition, we are confident that we will continue to build upon our 56-year legacy."
A member of the RCA team since 2006, Ernst first served as education and outreach director, responsible for identifying and hiring teaching artists, projecting and managing department budgets, marketing educational programs, planning and implementing annual summer camps as well as continuing education conferences for art educators. In 2020 she was promoted to deputy director, handling all aspects of operations including staff management and hiring, budgeting, financial reporting, programs and facilities oversight, and grant writing,
"I am honored to step into the role of executive director at Rockport Center for the Arts, an organization that has been at the heart of my professional journey for nearly two decades,” said Ernst. “It has been more than just my workplace—it has been my passion and my purpose. From launching programs that bring families together through art to leading major festivals that support artists and strengthen our local economy, it has been an incredible journey. I am excited to engage with our community, build upon our legacy, and guide the organization toward an even brighter future.”
Prior to joining RCA, Ernst was active in the Arts as an assistant instructor of music theory at the University of Texas at Austin and a graphic designer and advertising consultant for Arts Incorporated in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has served on numerous boards and committees of Rockport-Fulton area organizations including president of the Rockport-Fulton Education Foundation, treasurer and grant writer for Keep Aransas County Beautiful, Aransas County Children’s Coalition Advisory Council, and the Short Term Recovery (Hurricane Harvey) Economic Development team. Karen and her family enjoy living in Rockport where she also volunteers for organizations including the Tri-City Youth Soccer League, Rockport-Fulton Little Leauge Softball, Historic Homes Tour and First Learning Tree, as well as the Wine Festival and Seafair events.
“I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of the arts in our community,” said Ernst, “and I look forward to continuing our mission, fostering creativity, and ensuring Rockport remains a thriving hub for artists, art lovers, and cultural enrichment.”
About Rockport Center for the Arts
The new 1.2-acre Rockport Center for the Arts, the Coastal Bend’s first multidisciplinary arts organization, is located a block away from Aransas Bay in the heart of the Rockport Cultural Arts District. Designed by the award-winning team at Richter Architects, the state-of-the-art campus features a two-story, 14,000-square-foot, visual arts and education building with four galleries and five classrooms (204 S. Austin St.); The Rockport Conference Center, a one-story, 8,000-square-foot conference and event center, known as The ROCC, (106 S. Austin St.); with a 16,000-square-foot Sculpture Garden serving as a visually inspiring transition space between the two buildings. The hours of operation for the showroom, galleries, and gift shop are Tuesday–Saturday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday from noon–4 p.m. Admission is always free. For information on event space, or to book an event, call (361) 450-8033. For general information and to become a member, visit rockportartcenter.com, follow RCA on Facebook, or call (361) 729-5519.
###