NEMA acknowledges the hard-work and dedication of every museum worker in our field, whether it be part-time, full-time, contract, or businesses working with museums. We recognize the work being done by Museum Workers Speak to create The Museum Workers Relief Fund, a mutual aid fund by and for museum workers. And as they say, "Small acts of solidarity add up to a movement!"
We know the global pandemic has caused much uncertainty and the coming months will be challenging for museum workers, but NEMA will continue to be here to support you and the museum field of our future. That is why NEMA is offering our individual members the option of a 3-month membership deferment period to any individual member for whom membership is a hardship right now. If you are recently laid off, furloughed, or an Independent Museum Consultant then you can apply for the reduced membership. If you have any questions please contact our Manager of Membership and Development, Scarlett Hoey (scarlett.hoey@nemanet.org).
Timothy Peterson appointed executive director and chief curator, effective January 18. Peterson will succeed Suzette McAvoy, who will retire at the end of December after more than 10 years at the helm of CMCA.
Aaron Marcavitch appointed executive director.
Jeanne Solensky appointed librarian of the Memorial Libraries.
Peter Armstrong appointed president and CEO.
Dr. Christina Connett Brophy appointed senior vice president of curatorial affairs and senior director of museum galleries.
Madeleine Delpha appointed director of education.
Karina Corrigan, The H.A. Crosby Forbes Curator of Asian Export Art, is now Associate Director – Collections.
Daniel Finamore, The Russell W. Knight Curator of Maritime Art and History, is now Associate Director – Exhibitions.
Siddhartha Shah, Curator of Indian and South Asian Art, has been appointed Director of Education and Civic Engagement.
Petra Slinkard, The Nancy B. Putnam Curator of Fashion and Textiles, is now Director of Curatorial Affairs.
Trevor Smith, Curator of the Present Tense, is now Associate Director – Multisensory Experience
John McDonagh appointed executive director.
Joshua Campbell Torrance appointed executive director.
Martina Droth, currently Deputy Director of Research, Exhibitions and Publications, and Curator of Sculpture has been named Deputy Director and Chief Curator. Stepping down from this role is Scott Wilcox, who recently became a Senior Research Scholar at the Center.
Roger Mandle, the 15th president of the Rhode Island School of Design passed away in early December. He was 79. Mandle was president of RISD from 1993 to 2008. A former member of the National Council on the Arts appointed by former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, Mandle helped shape and guide the U.S. art and design agenda. After his presidency at RISD, Mandle became executive director and chief officer of museums at Qatar Museums Authority. When he returned to the Rhode Island area, he served on numerous boards, including the American Association of Museums, Newport Restoration Foundation, and the Art Acquisition Committee of the Toledo Museum of Art, where he had been the director for 14 years. Mandle was also founder and board chairman of the Massachusetts Design Art & Technology Institute in New Bedford.
Mandle was an active supporter of NEMA and the field. In 2013, he was the NEMA keynote speaker and has spoken at several NEMA conferences. He was also part of NEMA's NEMA 911 team.
