Thursday, March 28, 2024 Mar 28, 2024
73° F Dallas, TX
Advertisement
Publications

The Search Is on for New Director at Nasher Sculpture Center

The Nasher has plenty of competition in trying to find its new leader.

By Eric Celeste |
MY EYES ARE UP HERE: The Nasher’s Gaston Lachaise exhibit (which runs through February 24) is a good calling card for a new director.
photography courtesy of Nasher Sculpture Center

Jed Morse, the acting chief curator at the Nasher Sculpture Center, is trying to do his job, if only we would allow him to do so. It’s mid-December, and he’s walking us through the Nasher’s current sun-lit exhibit, “Woman: The Art of Gaston Lachaise,” but he’s stopped several times and asked to answer a string of gossipy questions:

When will the Nasher have a new director? Why did Steven Nash leave? Is it gonna be you, are you gonna be the new big dog? Why is it taking so long? Are you hungry? How much do you make? Can I be the curator and you be the director?

He politely ignores our inane queries and answers the pertinent ones, saying that we shouldn’t expect a new director to be named any time soon (and that, no, he’s not a candidate, as he’s enjoying being a curator). That’s at least partly because the market across the country for museum directors is a tight one, with dozens of openings in high-profile gigs around the country (including one at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth). A New York Times story last year noted that more than 10 percent of the top 200 or so museums were looking for a new leader.

That’s partly generational, Morse says, noting that many big-name directors are in their 60s and are retiring. But it’s also because it’s harder than ever to find someone who can combine the curatorial and art history experience a museum requires with the CEO-type skills these big institutions desire.

“Plus, we’re a unique institution,” Morse says. “With our focus on modern and contemporary sculpture, our candidate list is smaller than most. We’re a big draw, but for the right people.” Which is why the Nasher recently hired a search firm to help land its next director.

Related Articles

Image
Arts & Entertainment

Here’s Who Is Coming to Dallas This Weekend: March 28-31

It's going to be a gorgeous weekend. Pencil in some live music in between those egg hunts and brunches.
Image
Arts & Entertainment

Arlington Museum of Art Debuts Two Must-see Nature-Inspired Additions

The chill of the Arctic Circle and a futuristic digital archive mark the grand opening of the Arlington Museum of Art’s new location.
By Brett Grega
Image
Arts & Entertainment

An Award-Winning SXSW Short Gave a Dallas Filmmaker an Outlet for Her Grief

Sara Nimeh balances humor and poignancy in a coming-of-age drama inspired by her childhood memories.
By Todd Jorgenson
Advertisement