Siddhartha V. Shah appointed Curator of Indian and South Asian Art

We are delighted to announce that Siddhartha V. Shah is the new Curator of Indian and South Asian Art at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA. Shah will begin his new position in June 2018. He comes to PEM from Columbia University, New York with academic interests that include the aesthetics of imperial rule in British India, Tantric cults of the Divine Feminine and late 19th century British and French painting. Marilyn Hoffman and Connie Rosemont of Museum Search and Reference ran the international search for this position at PEM.

Petra Slinkard appointed Curator of Fashion & Textiles

We are delighted to announce that Petra Slinkard is the new Curator of Fashion & Textiles at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA. Slinkard began in her new position on February 1, 2018. She comes to PEM from the Chicago History Museum, where she was Curator of Costume since 2013.  Connie Rosemont of Museum Search and Reference and Marilyn Hoffman ran the international search for this new position at PEM.

Amanda Blake appointed Director of Education and Library Services

We are pleased to announce that the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, TX has appointed as its new Director of Education and Library Services Amanda Blake. Blake is currently Interim Director of Education and Head of Family, Access and School Experiences of the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA), TX. Blake begins her new position effective January 15, 2018.  Scott Stevens of Museum Search & Reference ran the national search.

Kara Blond appointed Director

We are pleased to announce that the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, DC (JHSGW) has appointed as it’s new Executive Director Kara Blond. Blond is currently Director of Exhibitions of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC. Blond begins her new position effective September 5, 2017. Museum Search & Reference conducted the national search. 

Michael Mansfield appointed Director

After a nine-month, nationwide search, we have selected an admired curator and administrator from the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.,” announced Ogunquit Museum of American Art Board President David J. Mallen.Museum Search & Reference conducted the national search.

Victoria Lyall appointed Curator of Pre-Columbian Art

Lyall, a seasoned former curator at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), will oversee the DAM’s pre-Columbian art collection, which represents nearly every major culture in Mesoamerica, Central America and South America. She will join Frederick & Jan Mayer Curator of Spanish Colonial Art, Jorge Rivas Pérez, in the museum’s New World department.

Samuel McKelvey appointed Executive Director

McKelvey previously served as Site Manager for Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park, an 1860 living-history farm site and museum. During his tenure at Meadow Farm, McKelvey significantly updated the site’s programs and re-interpreted a number of tours, bringing in new audiences, growing attendance, and making the site relevant to a new generation of students, families, and tourists.

Elizabeth M. Laurent appointed President

The Chester County Historical Society has appointed Elizabeth M. Laurent to be its new president, effective July 25, 2016. Board Chair George C. Zumbano, Esq. said “We are delighted to have selected from a national field of candidates a history-museum leader with exceptional professional experience. She will oversee a complete new installation of our galleries opening in 2017 and public programming to further expand our audiences.”