Michael Williamson

Interim Executive Director

A lifelong educator, artist, and Philadelphian, Michael brings decades of creative and organizational leadership to the Allens Lane Art Center. His career spans roles as a visual arts teacher, department chair, and Dean of Faculty at Germantown Friends School; director of a small arts school in California; and, most recently, gallery lecturer and Senior Instructor of Adult Education at the Barnes Foundation, where he developed and taught courses both in the galleries and online to students across the country and abroad.

Michael’s connection to Allens Lane runs deep. Raised on McCallum Street and a proud alumnus of Henry School and Central High School, he first experienced the Center as a child through summer camp, guitar lessons, theater, tennis, and friendships that shaped his early life. Returning now as Interim Executive Director is both an honor and a homecoming.

After retiring from the Barnes in 2024, Michael renewed his own studio practice at Firehouse Arts Germantown and co-chaired the Old Tennis Court Farm, reflecting his commitment to creativity, community, and the natural world.

Michael’s vision for Allens Lane is rooted in the belief that the arts transform individuals and strengthen communities. He is dedicated to supporting staff and teachers in delivering dynamic, high-quality programs that invite people of all ages to explore, learn, and create.