LEWISTON – L/A Arts expects to have a new executive director by next spring, according to board Chairman John Oxman.

He said the board has interviewed several candidates as replacements for longtime director Richard Willing. Board members have another interview scheduled early in January and could name a new director in March.

That means most of the group’s long-term plans – including fund-raising and moving into new Lisbon Street offices – are on hold.

“In some ways, we’ve done all of the planning we can do for the next several months,” Oxman said. L/A Arts’ performance and presentation schedule has been set for the next several months – at least through the end of the current school year, Oxman said.

But the long-range planning has to wait for a new executive director, he said. “We don’t know what direction the person we hire will take us.”

That includes moving into new offices, he said. The planned renovation of 84 Lisbon St., next to Courthouse Plaza, is still on hold. Renovations initially were expected to wrap up a year ago. L/A Arts has been promoting a $2 million fund-raising campaign since the project was announced in August 2001.

“That would be almost insulting to the new director,” Oxman said. “It wouldn’t be very nice to say, Welcome aboard. We’ve already decided what your next five years are going to be like.’ When we get new leadership, we really do want to hear what they have to say.”

Willing resigned his position in September, after 14 years with the organization.