OREANDA-NEWS. January 13, 2016. General Motors, a long-time sponsor of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), honored Ed Welburn, vice president of Global Design, in the rededication of the General Motors Center for African American Art. The Center’s goal is to enhance public knowledge of African-American contributions to the art community.

“Ed has built a legacy of design and artistic leadership in Detroit and the industry, and has recognized great talent and generously coached and mentored many young designers,” said Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “His creative imprint is on more than four decades of GM concept and production cars, trucks and crossovers.”

Welburn’s career has garnered him dozens of prestigious awards, and has distinguished him as the industry’s first and only African-American to lead a global design team. The citation to Welburn is particularly fitting for the DIA, which was the first major arts museum to create a center solely focused on the collection and work of African-American artists.

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