Open Forum

In Richmond, VA, when the American Civil War Center and the Museum of the Confederacy merged, both Christy Coleman and Waite Rawls were named codirectors. Now, as thethe American Civil War Museum readies its new building, Christy is the executive director and Waite is director of development.

------------------------------
Barbara Batson
Exhibitions Coordinator
Library of Virginia
Richmond VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2019 12:49 PM
From: Gail Nessell-Colglazier
Subject: Co-directors in a museum?

Hello All--

Does anyone know of any museums that have two co-directors reporting to a Board (rather than two deputies reporting to an executive director)? If you know of a museum that has tried this, and whether it was successful or not, I would appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks,

Gail

Gail Nessell Colglazier

Executive Searches for Museums

Career Counseling for Museum Professionals

Londonderry, NH

Hi Gail -

I believe the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery (https://fcmod.org/staff-directory/) has operated with two directors for years.

Best,
Lisa


------------------------------
Lisa Worley
Director of Material Culture
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
Grosse Pointe Shores MI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2019 12:49 PM
From: Gail Nessell-Colglazier
Subject: Co-directors in a museum?

Hello All--

Does anyone know of any museums that have two co-directors reporting to a Board (rather than two deputies reporting to an executive director)? If you know of a museum that has tried this, and whether it was successful or not, I would appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks,

Gail

Gail Nessell Colglazier

Executive Searches for Museums

Career Counseling for Museum Professionals

Londonderry, NH

Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh.

------------------------------
Kim Cavendish
Fort Lauderdale FL
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2019 12:49 PM
From: Gail Nessell-Colglazier
Subject: Co-directors in a museum?

Hello All--

Does anyone know of any museums that have two co-directors reporting to a Board (rather than two deputies reporting to an executive director)? If you know of a museum that has tried this, and whether it was successful or not, I would appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks,

Gail

Gail Nessell Colglazier

Executive Searches for Museums

Career Counseling for Museum Professionals

Londonderry, NH

Hi Gail, 
Bowdoin College Museum. And I can connect you with someone who worked there, if you like, Just email me directly.

------------------------------
Dawn Salerno
Executive Director
Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum
New Bedford MA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2019 12:49 PM
From: Gail Nessell-Colglazier
Subject: Co-directors in a museum?

Hello All--

Does anyone know of any museums that have two co-directors reporting to a Board (rather than two deputies reporting to an executive director)? If you know of a museum that has tried this, and whether it was successful or not, I would appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks,

Gail

Gail Nessell Colglazier

Executive Searches for Museums

Career Counseling for Museum Professionals

Londonderry, NH

For an international perspective, see Te Papa:

"The partnership between the Chief Executive Officer and Kaihautū (Māori leader) reflects the bicultural nature of the Museum.

Te Papa 'acknowledges the unique position of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand and the need to secure their participation in the governance, management, and operation' of the Museum."

Here's the link to the info about their executive team:

Executive team

------------------------------
Mark Schlemmer
Registrar for Collections
New-York Historical Society
New York NY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2019 12:49 PM
From: Gail Nessell-Colglazier
Subject: Co-directors in a museum?

Hello All--

Does anyone know of any museums that have two co-directors reporting to a Board (rather than two deputies reporting to an executive director)? If you know of a museum that has tried this, and whether it was successful or not, I would appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks,

Gail

Gail Nessell Colglazier

Executive Searches for Museums

Career Counseling for Museum Professionals

Londonderry, NH

Hi there-
I am the Vice President at Thanksgiving Point Institute, which is a multi-museum complex with 5 different museums. We don't have directors for any of our venues, rather we have a joint management team that works collaboratively to ensure the best possible experiences. For instance, the Director of Guest Services is responsible for guest service at all venues, the Director of Education is responsible for programming property wide, and so on. This allows us to provide consistency of guest experience, employee experience, and maintenance throughout. Although we have multiple museums, I believe we would adopt that same model were we a single venue because of the great collaboration and job satisfaction that it engenders. Hope that helps!

------------------------------
Lorie Millward
Vice President of Design and Programming
Thanksgiving Point Institute
Lehi UT
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-29-2019 09:33 AM
From: Mark Schlemmer
Subject: Co-directors in a museum?

For an international perspective, see Te Papa:

"The partnership between the Chief Executive Officer and Kaihautū (Māori leader) reflects the bicultural nature of the Museum.

Te Papa 'acknowledges the unique position of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand and the need to secure their participation in the governance, management, and operation' of the Museum."

Here's the link to the info about their executive team:

Executive team

------------------------------
Mark Schlemmer
Registrar for Collections
New-York Historical Society
New York NY

Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2019 12:49 PM
From: Gail Nessell-Colglazier
Subject: Co-directors in a museum?

Hello All--

Does anyone know of any museums that have two co-directors reporting to a Board (rather than two deputies reporting to an executive director)? If you know of a museum that has tried this, and whether it was successful or not, I would appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks,

Gail

Gail Nessell Colglazier

Executive Searches for Museums

Career Counseling for Museum Professionals

Londonderry, NH

Gail -
Frank Goodyear and Anne Goodyear at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art are husband and wife co-directors. They often tag team - one may be out of town while the other is doing things at the museum. You would have to ask them for more specifics on how well it works.
Best,

Ann Wagner

------------------------------
Ann Wagner PhD
Jackey and Curtis Finch, Jr., Curator of Drawings
Arkansas Arts Center
Little Rock AR
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2019 12:49 PM
From: Gail Nessell-Colglazier
Subject: Co-directors in a museum?

Hello All--

Does anyone know of any museums that have two co-directors reporting to a Board (rather than two deputies reporting to an executive director)? If you know of a museum that has tried this, and whether it was successful or not, I would appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks,

Gail

Gail Nessell Colglazier

Executive Searches for Museums

Career Counseling for Museum Professionals

Londonderry, NH

Here's a link to Feb AAM blog post by the co-directors of the Fort Collins Museum, about this type of leadership. https://www.aam-us.org/2019/02/22/when-dual-leadership-works-113/.

------------------------------
Julie Hart
Senior Director, Standards & Excellence Programs
American Alliance of Museums
Arlington VA
www.aam-us.org
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2019 12:49 PM
From: Gail Nessell-Colglazier
Subject: Co-directors in a museum?

Hello All--

Does anyone know of any museums that have two co-directors reporting to a Board (rather than two deputies reporting to an executive director)? If you know of a museum that has tried this, and whether it was successful or not, I would appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks,

Gail

Gail Nessell Colglazier

Executive Searches for Museums

Career Counseling for Museum Professionals

Londonderry, NH

​Goodwood Museum & Gardens in Tallahassee has two Co-Executive Directors.

------------------------------
John Turner
Archivist
Tallahassee FL
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2019 12:49 PM
From: Gail Nessell-Colglazier
Subject: Co-directors in a museum?

Hello All--

Does anyone know of any museums that have two co-directors reporting to a Board (rather than two deputies reporting to an executive director)? If you know of a museum that has tried this, and whether it was successful or not, I would appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks,

Gail

Gail Nessell Colglazier

Executive Searches for Museums

Career Counseling for Museum Professionals

Londonderry, NH