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).
Martin Mahoney appointed executive director.
Margarita Karasoulas appointed curator of art.
Jen Turner appointed museum educator.
Daphne B. Birdsey appointed chief advancement officer.
Crista Dix appointed executive director. Paula Tognarelli, Executive Director and Curator, will retire at the end of 2021.
Michael Hartman appointed Jonathan Little Cohen Associate Curator of American Art.
Ashley Offill appointed Associate Curator of Collections.
Alisa Swindell appointed Associate Curator of Photography.
Alexandra M. Thomas appointed the 2021–23 curatorial research associate in African art.
Carol S. Ward appointed executive director.
Kristy Edmunds appointed director.
Mark Schmidt appointed Executive Director.
Lara Litchfield-Kimber appointed executive director. Litchfield-Kimber will fill this role in January 2022.
Rachel Ferrante appointed executive director.
Yuisa Pérez appointed the first Chief People Officer. In this role, Pérez will lead the museum’s Human Resources Division.
Chris Sanders appointed director of the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard. Sanders succeeds longtime director Quentin Snediker, who will stay on at the museum in his role as the Clark Senior Curator for Watercraft.
Michael Haley Goldman appointed executive director.
Jasmin Rivas appointed Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility.
After 27 years of service as the leader of the RI State Council on the Arts (RISCA), Executive Director Randall Rosenbaum has announced his retirement. He will serve until the end of 2021.
Hillary Fortin appointed development and administration coordinator.
Lauren Prescott appointed manager of collections and interpretation.
Lisa Evans promoted to executive director.
Natalee Martin appointed chief advancement officer.
Dayne Rugh appointed director.
Executive Director Patricia Hutchins retired in September after 50 years of service to the museum. Julia Gray appointed executive director.
In 1976, Patricia Ann Pierce Nick became the first paid staffer of New England Conference, the organization that would become the New England Museum Association. Patricia was the director from 1976-1982. In 1985, Pat became the founder and director of the Vinalhaven Press. The Press published over 80 editioned works, many of which were collected and exhibited in major museums throughout the world. She died on September 29, 2021 at the age of 92 at the Ivan Calderwood Homestead on Vinalhaven. Read Dan Yaeger’s interview with her in the Spring, 2019 issue of New England Museums Now here.
