Savannah, Georgia's Telfair Museums, a place that's seen more leadership changes than a Shakespearean drama lately, just announced its new executive director: Caitlín Doherty. She's set to take the reins in October, presumably with a strong cup of coffee and a plan.
Doherty arrives from the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA Jacksonville), where she spent nine years proving that art can, in fact, pay the bills. During her tenure, MOCA's endowment doubled. Let that satisfying number sink in. Attendance also climbed, the collection grew, and the museum snagged accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in its centenary year. Apparently, the board wasn't just whistling Dixie when they praised her "X factor" back in 2017.
Before MOCA, Doherty was busy curating thought-provoking exhibitions at Michigan's Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, including a show that traveled all the way to China. She's even taught art history in Ireland, which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying – imagine trying to get a room full of students excited about 17th-century Dutch still lifes. She clearly has a knack for it.
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Start Your News DetoxThis appointment marks a fresh chapter for the Telfair, which happens to be the oldest public art museum in the South. It's a sprawling institution that includes the historic Telfair Academy, the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters, the modern Jepson Center, and a children's art museum. Doherty herself noted it's an important moment, with the Academy celebrating 140 years and the Jepson Center hitting its 20th.
All this good news comes after a rather… eventful period for the Telfair. Earlier this year, about 15% of the staff were laid off without much warning, reportedly due to decreased funding. Then, the executive director, who'd only been there since September 2023, stepped down in January due to a medical condition. His predecessor had resigned in March 2023. So, yeah, the museum has been through it.
Board chair Susan Willetts praised Doherty's experience, highlighting her financial acumen and knack for building relationships. Because apparently, that's what it takes to navigate the art world these days: a good eye for a masterpiece and an even better eye for a balance sheet. Here's hoping Doherty's "X factor" brings some much-needed stability and a fresh coat of cultural paint to Savannah's oldest art institution.
