by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Dr. Maarten van de Guchte has resigned as director of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. He would have celebrated his 10th anniversary later this year.
Cummer Board of Trustees Chair Edward Lane III said the resignation came as a mild surprise, but he understood van de Guchte had seen his role change over the past few years into a more administrative position and less of a true curator of art.
“It was a surprise about the timing,” said Lane. “Looking back, this is a tough time for nonprofits and the job did not seem to be as much fun as it was five years ago.”
Lane said the economy has affected the 49-year-old museum in a variety of ways. Attendance, store sales and contributions are all down.
“People just don’t spend as much as they used to,” said Lane, who has been on the Cummer board for eight years and took over as chair Oct. 1, 2007. “Altogether, it’s a whole different game.”
Since taking over in 1999 after being the director of art at the University of Illinois, the museum has expanded from 68,000 square feet to 102,000 square feet under van de Guchte. In that same time frame, the Cummer has added the Thomas H. Jacobsen Gallery, the Raymond K. and Minerva Mason Gallery and acquired the adjacent Women’s Club of Jacksonville on Riverside Avenue. In 1999, museum attendance was 90,000 and it peaked in 2007 when 145,000 people walked through the doors.
“I have been very active in construction and bringing in big exhibits and acquiring art,” said van de Guchte, adding he recently took the time to look at what he’s done over the past decade. “I have another 10 years to go (before retirement) and I want to cap my career and do something engaging. I want an adventure.
“I may work for a museum or do research. I am very open minded.”
van de Guchte said the decision was difficult because he has so many personal and professional ties to the area.
“I think this was the right moment, though,” said van de Guchte, who lives in Atlantic Beach and would like to remain in that area. He also said he has no influence on his successor. “I will leave that to the board and the others at the museum. That is not of my choosing.”
His resignation is effective April 1. At that point, Hope McMath — the museum’s education director and deputy director of programs — will take over on an interim basis. Lane said the board will begin a nationwide search in about six months. However, before then, he said the board will decide exactly what it wants in the museum’s next director. Given the need to increase attendance and donations, Lane said the next director may be more of an administrator than curator.
Lane said the board has started a series of four meetings to assess the museum, where it is today and where they’d like to see it be in five years. The group doing that assessment includes the board, museum staff and others close to the museum.
“It’s called out Intensive Operational Plan,” said Lane, explaining the plan will look 3-4 years down the road. “Every museum, every not-for-profit is in the same position. We will get through this, but we have to be smart. Maarten has been wonderful at many things. He came to the museum new to town and has been a wonderful ambassador for the Cummer in particular. But, we may need a slightly different face now.”
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