FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Barnes Foundation announces Appointment of Derek Gillman
as Executive Director and President
August 7, 2006, Lower Merion, PA --- The Barnes Foundation today announced the
appointment of Derek Gillman as its new Executive Director and President. He is
currently President and CEO and the Edna S. Tuttleman Director of the Pennsylvania
Academy of the Fine Arts. Mr. Gillman has been a highly successful leader of the
Academy since 1999. His directorship at The Barnes Foundation will begin October
16, 2006.
Dr. Bernard C. Watson, Chairman of the Board of The Barnes Foundation, stated in
announcing the appointment: "Derek Gillman has all the essential qualities that we
have been seeking in a new director. He is first and foremost an educator, with a
deep commitment to art. He knows The Barnes Foundation and its collections
intimately, and he understands the special character and history of the institution.
Equally important, he has been an extremely effective leader in three important
institutions-on three continents-during the past two decades. I am fully confident
that he has the commitment, the energy, the depth of knowledge, and the human
qualities necessary to lead the Foundation as it embarks on its exceptionally
ambitious program over the course of the next decade."
In response to his selection as Executive Director and President, Mr. Gillman
stated, "In moving to The Barnes Foundation, I greatly look forward to working
with Dr. Bernard Watson and other members of the Board to realize the dream of
Albert Barnes and John Dewey of establishing an educational institution that
contributes to the whole nation. Thanks to the massive generosity of a number
of benefactors, The Barnes Foundation is ready to re-engage vigorously with that
vision - of using one of the world's great collections of modern art to serve the
goal of a more inclusive and democratic society for all Americans."
Derek Gillman was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he first studied
philosophy and psychology, and then later moved to Chinese studies, with a
specialization in Chinese art. He also holds a Master of Laws degree from the
University of East Anglia, and has recently completed a book titled The Idea of
Cultural Heritage. He began his museum career in 1981 as a Curator at the British
Museum in London, and then became Keeper (director) of the Sainsbury Centre for
Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia (from 1985 to 1995), while also
teaching museum studies there. In 1995 he became Deputy Director of the National
Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, taking responsibility for the
curatorial and education departments. The National Gallery of Victoria possesses
Australia's most important collection of Old Master paintings, and Gillman joined
the Gallery at a time when it was undertaking major building renovations and
expansion. Finally, he came to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts as
Executive Director and Provost in 1999, and became President in 2001.
In learning about the appointment at The Barnes Foundation, Neil MacGregor,
Director of the British Museum (and previously Director of the National Gallery,
London), stated that "Derek Gillman is without a doubt one of the outstanding
British museum directors of his generation. At the Sainsbury Centre and at
Australia's National Gallery of Victoria as well as at the Pennsylvania Academy of
the Fine Arts, he combined imagination and energy with intellectual rigor. He
seems ideally suited to the opportunities as The Barnes Foundation moves into its
new and challenging future."
Mr. Joseph Neubauer was Chair of the Search Committee, which considered more than
130 possible candidates, and ultimately interviewed a dozen highly qualified
individuals. In discussing Mr. Gillman's selection, Mr. Neubauer said, "Derek
Gillman is exceptionally well qualified for this position. He has a wide-ranging
knowledge of art, and has worked with collections ranging from Asian, African and
Western art of the Renaissance through the 20th century, including American art.
In addition, Derek has been involved in important building and renovation projects
in institutions in three countries. He values effective teamwork, and in
partnership with Academy Chairman Donald Caldwell, he has also led the very
successful fundraising initiatives at the Academy. We have searched widely and
deliberately in order to find someone whose combination of talents matched the
current needs and immediate challenges of The Barnes Foundation, and who would be
able to provide continuity of leadership as we look to the decade ahead. While the
primary qualifications for the directorship were a demonstrated commitment to
education and a clear understanding of the special character of The Barnes
Foundation and its collections, the Committee and the Board did believe that
substantial administrative experience as an institutional leader was a very
important asset, given the number and variety of immediate challenges facing the
Foundation. We are delighted to have Derek Gillman as our leader for this critical
time in the Foundation's history. He will bring his worldwide experience and
networks to The Barnes Foundation in the years to come."
Several leaders in the field of art, at very different kinds of institutions,
expressed their enthusiasm for Gillman's appointment. Glenn Lowry, Director of The
Museum of Modern Art, particularly emphasized that, in choosing Gillman, The Barnes
Foundation had selected someone who is "intellectual, energetic and deeply
committed to the arts. He is a thoughtful scholar who also has a broad range of
administrative experience at both large and small museums-a combination that will
serve The Barnes Foundation extremely well."
Michael Conforti, Director of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute,
remarked that "Derek is an original thinker, and has a deep understanding of the
civic, aesthetic and economic factors that have combined to help shape arts
institutions, and he will know precisely how those issues need to be addressed to
meet the contemporary challenges that lie ahead at The Barnes Foundation."
Although Mr. Gillman has been in the United States for only a relatively small part
of his career, he has already emerged as an effective leader. He is currently a
member of the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) and of the Board of the
Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design. Following a recent visit to
the Academy and its renovated facilities by members of the AAMD, Linda Shearer,
Director of the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, Ohio (and former Director
of the Williams College Museum) stated: "Derek is a wonderful choice. On my visit
to the Pennsylvania Academy, I was immensely impressed by all that he has
accomplished there. The galleries and the whole Academy have been transformed by
his skills and energy."
"Derek has been an exceptional leader for the Academy and steward of the
Pennsylvania Academy legacy. The accomplishment of his administration will
serve the Academy for generations to come," said Don Caldwell, Chairman of the
Board of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. "We will miss his dedication
and inimitable leadership style and fully understand why The Barnes Foundation
selected him above all others. We wish Derek the very best in his new role."
Mr. Caldwell noted that "As one of the world's few truly great combined art museums
and schools, the Pennsylvania Academy commands great respect, and, therefore, the
search committee will find its task of replacing Derek made easier by the
extraordinary momentum that we presently have at the beginning of our third
century."
Of his tenure at the Pennsylvania Academy, Mr. Gillman said, "It has truly been a
privilege to serve the Board of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts for the
last seven years. I cannot overstate the inspiration and support that I have
received from Chairman Donald Caldwell. Don has built the Board into a highly
effective decision-making body which is also a joy to work with. I am grateful to
the Trustees, and to our very talented faculty and staff for bringing the Academy
so far in the past decade."
When Mr. Gillman assumes his directorship in October, he will necessarily move
ahead very rapidly in order to continue the considerable forward momentum of The
Barnes Foundation, as it plans for its relocation to Center City Philadelphia. To
date, the Foundation has made significant progress toward meeting its goals. It
was granted permission for the move to Philadelphia only 19 months ago, and its
first challenge was to expand its Board of Trustees from four to 15, in order to
ensure that the Board is large and diverse enough to be able to guide the
institution in the next phase of its development.
During the past several months, the Board has concentrated on several priorities.
First, it has worked with the present staff and others to define the program
elements that will be important to include in its future new facility. This work
will be assisted by the services of consultants from the firm of Polshek
Partnership Architects LLP. Simultaneously, there has been a highly successful
fundraising effort, and The Barnes Foundation announced just a month ago that its
initial target of $150 million had been achieved. Recently, the Foundation
announced plans to raise at least another $50 million to make certain that the
Foundation is properly endowed in the years ahead, so that some substantial share
of its annual operating costs can be permanently underwritten. Finally, the
broad-based search for a new director necessarily occupied a major part of the
Board's time and effort. During the coming months, intensive program planning will
continue, and the process of selecting an architect will begin.
Please click here to view a copy of Mr.
Gillman's C.V.
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To request an interview, or for further information, contact:
Claire Whittaker
The Kreisberg Group, Ltd.
212-799-5515
claire@kreisberggroup.com
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The Barnes Foundation
300 North Latch's Lane
Merion, PA 19066-1729
610.667.0290
info@barnesfoundation.org
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