DALLAS — The Executive Director of the Dallas Museum of Art will step down at the end of this year, the museum announced in a press release Monday.
Agustín Arteaga, The Eugene McDermott Director of the Dallas Museum of Art, will step down Dec. 31 after eight years with the museum, the release states. He led the museum through the COVID-19 pandemic, increased the diversity of visitors and leaders in the museum, expanded the curatorial team and secured bond funding from the city of Dallas to expand the museum, the release states.
Tamara Wootton Forsyth, currently the deputy director of the DMA, will serve as interim director, according to the release. Wootton Forsyth was appointed Deputy Director by Arteaga in 2018 and has held several positions at the DMA over the past 23 years, the release states.
A search committee led by the museum's board of trustees will begin the process of appointing the next Director, the release states.
"We are grateful to Agustín for his many contributions to the Dallas Museum of Art, especially during a time of unprecedented challenges,” Gowri Sharma, president, and Jeff Ellerman, chair, of the Board of Trustees of the DMA said. “With a long list of curatorial and programmatic achievements and having put in place a talented leadership team, he is leaving the Museum in a position of strength as we look to the next chapter in the Museum’s trajectory.
The next leader of the museum will implement the "Reimagining the Museum" initiative which will create facilities to accommodate the museum's growing collection and create a stronger connection to the surrounding arts district, the release states. The museum plans to unveil the design of the reimagined museum and begin a capital campaign soon, the release states.
“As the Museum embarks on an expansive transformation project and capital campaign, and considering the significant progress that has been made during my eight years of leading the DMA, working in collaboration with our staff and Board, driven by my passion for art and a strong sense of purpose to serve, I feel it’s the right time to transition and focus on pursuing these passions as a museum leader, curator and scholar,” Arteaga said.
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