by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
For more than six years George Kinghorn has helped the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art grow and now, as the newly appointed director, he has plans to make JMOMA a premier museum not only in the Southeast but nationally.
JMOMA announced the resignation of former President and CEO Jane Craven on Nov. 7. Kinghorn formerly served as the museum’s deputy director and chief curator.
“What I am most excited about ... I know the community very well, I am grounded and I am interested in seeing Jacksonville grow to be a civic, cultural and living area,” said Kinghorn. “The Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art plays a very significant role in the cultural life and revitalization of Downtown and in particular the Hemming Plaza area.”
Kinghorn explained that with the new Main Library opening, City Hall and JMOMA all in one place, it really offers the community a strong civic and cultural area.
“It is a gathering place for citizens to enjoy recreation, arts and learning,” he said. “It is certainly a great meeting place for people.”
Kinghorn also talked about working on plans with the library and expanding their relationship.
“The library is a spectacular neighbor and there are great opportunities for partnerships in ways to enrich lives of museum visitors and then having the library next door,” he said.
Since Kinghorn has been with JMOMA he has brought in many exhibitions and learning opportunities to the museum.
More than six years ago Kinghorn was hired as the museum’s chief curator. For the past two years he also took on the job as deputy director as well. He said he had a balance of administrative responsibilities and managing the artistic affairs in the museum.
“I have a strong background in visual arts and while I have been here, I have organized over 25 to 30 exhibitions of national and internationally known artists,” he said. “I was also responsible for bringing in gifts to the museum’s growing collection.”
Now as the museum’s director, Kinghorn said his primary goal is to increase the awareness of JMOMA as an important cultural institution, not only in the Southeast, but also nationally.
“Central to that goal is to significantly increase the collection of modern and contemporary art and expand on the cultural innovation of exhibitions and programming of which the museum is known for,” he said.
Kinghorn also plans to grow the museum’s membership and continue to develop exciting and relevant educational programs. He said he also would like to increase the amount of corporate involvement in the museum. Kinghorn said JMOMA provides a wonderful and creative place to have business meetings or conferences.
“Above all, the museum is a place for everyone to come and a symbol for a wide range of opportunities,” he said.
As more and more people move to Jacksonville, it is important that they have the cultural and recreational activities that they may have had in their previous cities.
Just in his time at the museum, Kinghorn has seen the museum grow as an institution and he has seen the interest in the museum grow, too. He explained the museum is not just art; it also houses Cafe Nola, a gift store, a lecture series, exhibitions and more. He added that JMOMA is one of the few contemporary art museums that has hands-on, interactive spaces for families.
Kinghorn said the museum offers something for everyone and he believes anyone can develop an appreciation for modern and contemporary art. Since JMOMA moved to its new location from a smaller building on Art Museum Drive about three years ago, it has gotten comments from visitors on how much it reminds them of museums in New York City.
“We are a very hip and urban institution, and that is coming directly from comments for visitors,” said Kinghorn. “The galleries are very minimalist-inspired galleries.”
Because Kinghorn was appointed to director the museum will be hiring a curator of modern and contemporary art. He said he is hoping that person brings in fresh ideas for the museum’s programming.
As for Kinghorn’s new duties, he said he will always be involved primarily with artistic affairs, but now he will be taking on more responsibility.
“In so many cases I will be expanding my duties, still guiding the aesthetics of the museum, but now I will be solely responsible for the administration of the institution,” he said.