Leadership changes abound this week in the arts with new executive directors taking at the helm at several museums and an arts center. In related museum news, a Hamptons museum breaks ground for a permanent home.
Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center (WHPAC) welcomes Gram Slaton as its new Executive Director, announced the performing arts center. Slaton begins his new position on Monday, July 16, 2018. He replaces Clare Bisceglia who has held the position for most of the theater's 20 year existence. Slaton moves from the Grand Opera House in Macon, Georgia, where he was executive director for two years, according to WHBPAC. Previously, he was executive director at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado for nine years and executive director at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport, Pennsylvania for 12 years. The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center is located in Westhampton Beach, NY in The Hamptons. www.whbpac.org.
Cybele Maylone has been appointed the new Executive Director for The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, announced the CT museum. Maylone succeeds Alyson Baker, who stepped down from the position in December 2017. Maylone is currently the Executive Director of UrbanGlass in New York, a position she has held since 2013. Previously, Maylone was the Deputy Director for apexart and also worked for the New Museum of Contemporary Art in development and membership. The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is based in Ridgefield, CT. www.aldrichart.org.
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Michael Gitlitz begins his position as Executive Director of the Katonah Museum of Art (KMA) as of July 16, 2018, announced the Westchester museum. Gitlitz succeeds Darsie Alexander, who was executive director of KMA from 2014 to early 2018. She was recently named Chief Curator of The Jewish Museum in New York. Gitlitz is well-steeped in the art world, having held director positions with Hirschl & Adler Modern and Marlborough Gallery and Senior Specialist in Post-War & Contemporary and in Modern Art for Paddle8 auction house, among other positions. The Katonah Museum of Art is located in Katonah, NY in Westchester County. www.katonahmuseum.org.
The Southampton African American Museum (SAAM) broke ground on July 7, 2018 for its permanent home in Southampton Village, reported The Southampton Press. The museum will be located in a single-story building at 245 North Sea Road, the former home of Randy's Barber Shop, a historic gathering place for African-Americans in the forties until its closing, according to the museum. The location received the designation as the first African American historic landmark in the Village of Southampton in 2010 by the Village Historic Preservation Board. SAAM recently secured $850,000 in funding, according to Brenda Simmons, the museum's executive director, reported The Southampton Press. www.saamuseum.org.
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