A former executive director of the Topeka Performing Arts Center has been arrested in Shawnee County on a domestic battery allegation.
According to Shawnee County booking records, 69-year-old Lawrence Edward Gawronski was booked into jail Tuesday evening on a charge listed as “domestic battery; knowing or reckless bodily harm to family/person in dating relationship.” The booking report shows the arrest occurred at approximately 7:20 p.m. on May 27, 2026. The case was listed with no bond at the time of booking.
Gawronski previously served as executive director of TPAC before retiring at the end of 2022. At the time of his retirement announcement, venue management company VenuWorks credited him with leading the arts center for seven years in Topeka after holding similar leadership roles in Iowa and Mississippi.
In a 2022 statement announcing his retirement, VenuWorks President Steve Peters described Gawronski as a “veteran employee” who brought “a passion for our industry, our events, and our patrons throughout his career.”
The TPAC Board of Trustees also publicly praised Gawronski at the time, stating his “tireless love of the arts” had impacted thousands of patrons and artists during his tenure at the downtown venue.
As with all criminal cases, the allegation against Gawronski remains unproven unless and until proven in court. No additional details about the incident had been released Wednesday morning.
