Evansville Art Museum Selects New Leader
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science has named Bryan Knicely executive director. He is set to begin next month and most recently served in a similar role with a museum in Florida. September 11, 2014
News Release
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Board of Directors of the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, & Science announced today the hiring of Bryan W. Knicely as the new Executive Director. He was hired after a nationwide executive search guided by Arts Consulting Group. Knicely will begin his new role in mid-October.
“This is an exciting time for the Museum. After the successful completion of the capital campaign and building expansion, we are in a period of rapid growth and look to become the number one cultural destination in the region. The Board's appointment of Mr. Knicely to lead us at this time is based upon his prior successes and enthusiastic commitment to the arts,” says Board President Sharon Walker. “We are happy to have Bryan join the staff, as he has extensive experience leading arts and cultural centers across the country.”
Knicely was most recently the Executive Director of the Coral Springs Museum of Art where he received a Congressional Nomination for the 2015 National Medal for Museum Service by Congressman Ted Deutch. Knicely is the former President of the Stonewall National Museum & Archives, and, prior to Stonewall, he developed strategic grants and proposals for major exhibitions at Nova Southeastern University's Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale.
Before relocating to Florida, Knicely led the Greater Columbus Arts Council as President, where he provided vision and leadership, advocacy and collaboration to support art and advance the culture of the region. While there, he served on cultural delegations to Germany, Denmark, Chile and China. Knicely served as the Assistant Director and Accessibility Coordinator of the Maine Arts Commission and received two awards from Maine Governor John Baldacci for outstanding leadership and service to the State of Maine and two awards for his marketing and branding campaigns. He directed the agency's international programs and worked with trade missions to France and a partnership exchange with Aomori, Japan. Further, he served as a cultural ambassador to Cuba.
Knicely has worked with the National Endowment for the Arts and served as a panelist on the NEA's 2006 State Arts Agencies Partnership Agreement peer-review process, the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. He has presented at two National Assembly of State Arts Agencies conferences as well as being a member of Americans for the Arts and American Alliance of Museums. Knicely is certified by the Harvard Business School in Performance Measurements for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organizations. He has a Master of Arts degree in Arts Policy & Administration from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in Management & Marketing from Otterbein University. He is an avid art collector and amateur photographer and enjoys traveling to visit museums and culturally historic sites around the world.
Bryan W. Knicely fills the vacancy left when Dr. John Streetman III retired at the end of 2012 after over 37 years of dedicated service. During the transition, the Museum was led by Interim Director and Curator of Collections Mary Bower. “Mary guided the Museum through the construction and opening of the new wing and Koch Immersive Theater,” says Walker. “The Board of Trustees is grateful for her dedicated service and commitment to the Evansville Museum.”
When asked about his appointment Knicely stated, “I am honored to join the talented team of board, staff, and volunteers at the Evansville Museum. I look forward to working with everyone to increase community engagement and collaboration across all sectors. I believe every person has tremendous potential for creativity when encouraged, and I am thrilled to get started!”
About the Museum
The Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science is one of Southwestern Indiana's most respected cultural institutions. The Museum maintains a permanent collection of more than 30,000 objects, including fine art, decorative arts, historic documents and photographs, and anthropological and natural history artifacts. Also on the Museum's campus is the Evansville Museum Transportation Center, featuring Southern Indiana transportation artifacts from the late-19th through the mid-20th centuries.
In February of 2014, the Museum concluded the most ambitious renovation and expansion project in the institution's history. The cornerstone of the Museum addition is the Koch Immersive Theater with the newest in planetarium technology dramatically housed in the two-and-a-half story glass Eykamp Pavilion. The interior renovations include a new hands-on science center, a gallery for changing history and science exhibitions, and classroom area.
About Arts Consulting Group
Arts Consulting Group is the leading provider of hands-on interim management, executive search, revenue enhancement consulting, facilities and program planning, and organizational development services for the arts and culture industry. With locations in New York, Washington DC, Boston, Pittsburgh, Tampa, Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, Seattle and Chicago, ACG consultants are also located in other communities throughout North America to best serve the needs of its clients. For more information, call (888) 234-4236 or visit www.artsconsulting.com.
Source: The Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science