The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens selected Andrea Barnwell Brownlee as the institution’s next George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Brownlee has been director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art in Atlanta for nearly 20 years. She will begin her role at the Cummer in December.
“Since our search process began, the board sought candidates who shared our vision for the future of the Cummer Museum. We are eager to work with her to ensure the Cummer Museum continues to serve our community and beyond to the best of its ability,” said Pam Paul, chair of Cummer’s board of trustees, in a news release.
Brownlee received a Ph.D. in art history from Duke University in 2001. As an undergraduate at Spelman College, she received dual degrees in English and art history. She is an alumna of the Getty Leadership Institute.
“I am honored to lead the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens — a forward-thinking institution that is prepared to meet the opportunities and challenges of this unprecedented time
“I anticipate working in collaboration with a variety of partners and stakeholders, both existing and new, to expand its footprint as the jewel of Jacksonville and an exceptional cultural resource for the region, the nation and the world,” Brownlee said.
She is a member of the leadership team that guided the Curatorial Studies Program at Spelman College, which was funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
In 2019, Brownlee expanded her efforts to educate the next generation of museum professionals by assuming a dual role as the senior strategist for the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective.
She also was a MacArthur Curatorial Fellow at The Art Institute of Chicago’s Department of Modern and Contemporary Art before she went to Spelman College.
Brownlee is a recipient of the Future Women Leadership Award from Art Table, the President’s Award from the Women’s Caucus for Art, the inaugural Nexus Award from the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center and the David C. Driskell Prize in African American Art and Art History.
Susan Towler, vice chair of the museum’s board of trustees, led a national search committee.
“Our search committee had the opportunity to meet several excellent candidates, and it was clear that Dr. Brownlee was the most qualified with the right experience, passion and enthusiasm to accelerate the museum’s position as a world-class destination,” Towler said in the release.
“Her strategic vision for the Museum aligned with ours, and we are confident that her arrival will mark a period of dynamic growth.”
Kerrie Slattery, who was interim director during the search process, will resume her position as chief advancement officer.
“Kerrie has skillfully led the museum during one of the most challenging periods in modern history. Her dedication and stability were critical to our navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as helping guide us through the social unrest facing our nation and community. We are thankful for her steady hand leading the Cummer Museum throughout this time,” said Paul.
The George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director and Chief Executive Officer position is endowed through a $4 million gift made in 2017 by The Disosway Foundation of New York.
The foundation was established by Dudley D. Johnson, a former Cummer Museum trustee whose grandfather, George W. Gibbs, influenced the development of Jacksonville during the first half of the 20th century. Gibbs was an inventor and shipbuilder who founded the Gibbs Gas Engine Company, which became the Gibbs Corp.
He is noted for championing the building of the Main Street Bridge, connecting Downtown to the Southbank of the St. Johns River.
Proceeds from the endowment support the director and CEO position in perpetuity. Additional funds the endowment raises in its future growth are earmarked for museum operations and programs.