Harry Philbrick appointed Executive Director

We are pleased to announce that the Newport Art Museum has appointed Harry Philbrick as Executive Director. The nationwide search was led by MS&R Senior Search Consultant Dan Yaeger.

A native Rhode Islander whose career spans galleries and museums from London to Philadelphia, Philbrick has spent the last three decades as the leader of distinguished arts institutions such as The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum. 

Philbrick is currently serving as the Interim Director of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum and previously served as Interim Director of the Fabric Workshop and Museum, where he led the artist-centered institution through a strategic restructuring. He will start work in Newport in mid-September, taking over from Interim Executive Director Ruth Taylor. 

In 2016, Philbrick founded Philadelphia Contemporary, a visual and performance arts nonprofit that connected the community through place-based installations and programming. He served as Director until 2023, and in that time raised more than $10 million. Prior to that, he was Director of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum and Director of The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. At The Aldrich, Philbrick led a $9 million capital campaign to open a new building, helped grow the endowment from $9 million to nearly $30 million, and led the Museum’s renowned exhibition program. 

Philbrick’s other professional roles include staff lecturer at the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, both in New York, and head of the exhibition lecture program at Hayward Gallery in London. Philbrick has an MFA from the University of London. 

“Harry is an extraordinary talent who will lead the Newport Art Museum into a future that honors the past yet remains innovative and relevant,” said Chair of the Board Ellie Voorhes. “This Museum has been a vibrant cultural hub in Newport for more than a century. Harry appreciates our legacy, understands our strategic plan, and has a strong vision for continued growth.” 

“Art, creativity, and their power to bring people together have always been at the center of my life and career. The Newport Art Museum is uniquely positioned to foster those connections,” said Philbrick. “I am excited about the possibilities the Museum has to connect communities within and around Newport, and to make a national impact in the years to come.” 

Benjamin Neely Appointed President and CEO

We are pleased to announce that the York County History Center has appointed Benjamin Neely as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.

Neely brings significant experience in museum management and historical programming to his new role. He most recently served for six years as Chief Executive Officer of the Berks County History Center in Reading, PA. Before that, he was with the Adams County Historical Society in Gettysburg, PA for fourteen years, the last seven as Chief Executive Officer. His background in central Pennsylvania’s cultural institutions provides him with valuable insight into the unique challenges and opportunities facing regional history centers. Neely holds an M.A. in Applied History from Shippensburg University, PA, and a B.S. in Marketing from the State University of New York, Oswego.

Throughout his career, Neely has shown a commitment to making history accessible and relevant to diverse audiences. His experience spans various aspects of museum operations, including collections management, educational programming, and community outreach. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Benjamin Neely to lead the York County History Center into its next chapter,” said Dennis Baughman, Chairman of the History Center Board. “His extensive experience in museum leadership and his proven track record of engaging communities with their local history make him the ideal candidate to advance our mission of preserving and sharing York County’s rich heritage, and to lead the History Center’s continued growth and evolution as a vital cultural resource for the region.”

“I am honored to join the York County History Center and look forward to working with the dedicated staff, volunteers, and community members who make this organization so special,” Neely said. “York County has such a rich and fascinating history, and I’m excited about the opportunity to help share those stories in new and engaging ways while building on the strong foundation that already exists.”

Neely succeeds Joan Mummert, who retired at the end of April. Terri Altland, Vice President of Visitor Engagement, served as interim President and CEO since May 1 and will continue to support the organization during the transition period.

Mindy N. Besaw appointed Director

We are pleased to announce that Mindy N. Besaw, Ph.D., is the new Wilma E. Kelley Director of the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University Bloomington.

Besaw brings more than two decades of curatorial and museum leadership experience with a focus on innovative exhibition design, expansive storytelling, and academic collaboration. She will assume her position on August 15, 2025. The search was led by MS&R Senior Search Consultant, Suzanne Tan.

Besaw currently serves as Director of Fellowships, Research and University Partnerships and Curator of American Art at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. Since joining the institution in 2014, she has curated major exhibitions that examine wide-ranging narratives in American art and has championed initiatives that center underappreciated artists and voices. She has been instrumental in leading the Museum’s Tyson Scholars of American Art Fellowship Program, and in the foundation of the University of Arkansas’ Master of Arts in Art History, which specializes in arts of the Americas in partnership with Crystal Bridges. Earlier in her career, Besaw served as curator at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, where she oversaw the Whitney Western Art Museum. Her work has explored intersections of place, identity, and history in American visual culture.

Besaw earned a doctorate in American art history from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, and holds a master’s degree in art history and museum studies from the University of Denver. At the Eskenazi Museum, Besaw succeeds David Brenneman, who became Director and CEO of Telfair Museums, Savannah, on September 1, 2024.

As Director, Besaw will oversee all facets of the Eskenazi Museum of Art’s strategy, operations, and engagement, including exhibitions, collections, teaching partnerships, and public programming. Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, she will guide the Museum’s next chapter as a dynamic center for visual arts education, interdisciplinary scholarship, and cultural dialogue. 

“Mindy is a visionary leader whose curatorial excellence and collaborative spirit make her an exceptional choice to lead the Eskenazi Museum of Art,” IU Bloomington Provost Rahul Shrivastav said. “Her deep commitment to expansive practice, community engagement and academic partnership will further elevate the Museum’s impact at IU and across the region.”