Gary Blankemeyer, museum CFO since June 2015, to become COO/CFO

Bruce LaRowe, interim President & CEO of The Mint Museum, and the executive committee of The Mint Museum Board of Trustees have named  Gary Blankemeyer as the new Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer of The Mint Museum effective  September 25.

Blankemeyer was hired as the Mint’s first-ever Chief Financial Officer in June 2015, and had been acting as interim Chief Operating Officer since July. He replaces Toni Freeman , who left the Mint in July to take a new position as Executive Vice President, Community Engagement at the Arts & Science Council.

“Gary is the perfect person to assume this expanded role because of his extensive experience in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, and his distinguished track record at the Mint,” said LaRowe .

As CFO, Blankemeyer has overseen the Mint’s financial and IT activities, including financial management and reporting, budgeting, general accounting, billing, investment administration, financial strategic planning, IT strategic planning, and grants management. As COO/CFO, he will assume supervision over several additional Mint divisions including Special Events (private museum rental business); the Museum Shops; Human Resources; security; housekeeping; and facilities management.

“During his time at the Mint, Gary has been an excellent steward of the Mint’s financial resources, and we believe he will continue to position the Mint for sustainability and future strategic growth,” said Weston Andress, chair, The Mint Museum Board of Trustees.

Prior to joining the Mint, Blankemeyer was the Senior Vice President, Finance for the nonprofit Child Care Resources Inc. and held responsibility for all financial activity. He spent more than 20 years at Bosch Rexroth Corp. in various senior financial and general management positions where he developed overall strategic, financial, and operational plans for various divisions of the manufacturing giant.

“I really appreciate the opportunity and confidence from Bruce LaRowe and the Executive Committee of The Mint’s Board of Trustees,” said Blankemeyer. “It has been a great two years for me here, especially in learning a new business and working with such a talented and supportive group of managers, board, and staff. I am truly excited about having an expanded role to help enhance the Mint’s mission and future success.”

Bruce LaRowe, a familiar face in the Charlotte arts scene, to assist the Mint during its upcoming leadership transition

The Mint Museum Board of Trustees has approved its CEO succession plan and authorized the hiring of Bruce LaRowe as interim CEO following previously announced plans for Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson to leave The Mint Museum’s President & CEO position. LaRowe will assume the position effective June 21.

LaRowe served for 20 years as Executive Director of Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, recognized as one of the top five professional theaters for youth in the country. After he stepped down in 2013, he joinedLevRidge Resources , a Charlotte firm that provides professional interim leadership to nonprofits during transitional periods. This will mark his second term at the Mint, as he previously served as Interim Director of Learning & Engagement during a vacancy in that senior leadership position in 2014-15. LaRowe has also served as the interim leader of local nonprofits including Thompson Child & Family Focus and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte, as well as serving as interim Development Director at Habitat for Humanity Charlotte.

LevRidge Resources also recently shepherded the Mint through the process of developing a new three-year strategic plan which will provide guidelines for the Mint’s next leader. The Mint’s board actively participated in the development of the plan along with Mint staff, and approved the plan’s strategic themes on Wednesday evening. “The extensive track record of both Bruce LaRowe and LevRidge Resources in working with the Mint and other nonprofits in the community makes Bruce the perfect person to lead the Mint during this transition,” said Weston Andress, chair of the Mint’s board. “Bruce knows the Mint well, he knows the cultural landscape both locally and nationally, and he is exceptionally highly regarded throughout Charlotte and beyond.”

“Thanks to the hands-on involvement of the board and staff of The Mint Museum, the three-year strategic planning process can now serve as the transition plan for the Mint’s next CEO,” said Kathy Ridge, who helped lead the strategic planning process along with Mint Museum Board of Trustees member Karl Newlin.

LaRowe will work with Mint senior leadership on refining the strategic metrics and tactics of the three-year plan, as well as keeping a variety of ongoing museum projects on track during the process of conducting a national search for a permanent CEO. The Mint’s board is in the process of designating a committee to oversee the search, which will launch this summer.

LaRowe holds a Master of Arts in Community Arts Management from the University of Illinois. He chaired the Board of Arts North Carolina and has been a guest lecturer for the N.C. Center for Nonprofits. During his tenure at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, he created the vision along with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library to build ImaginOn, a 100,000 square-foot cultural resource for children recognized as unique in the nation.

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Mint’s senior leadership to ensure a seamless transition and assist the Mint in entering a new phase of growth and sustainability,” said LaRowe.

She begins at ASC July 17, 2017

The Arts & Science Council (ASC) has announced Toni L. Freeman as its Executive Vice President, Community Engagement.  Freeman comes to ASC from The Mint Museum where she currently serves as Chief Operating Officer.  She begins at ASC on July 17.

Freeman, who has over 20 years of executive management experience, will lead ASC’s strategic change initiatives including advocacy, public sector investments, donor stewardship and branding. Her expertise in the nonprofit and corporate sectors span from serving as director of project research and evaluation at The Duke Endowment, director of donor and business relations at MeckEd, founding board member and past chair of the Women’s Impact Fund, past president of the Junior League of Charlotte and Association of Junior Leagues International to senior vice president for finance, administration and membership at the Charlotte Convention & Visitors Bureau and corporate associate
vice president at SunHealth (now Premier).

“Toni’s ideas, approach, and leadership style is a perfect fit for ASC,” said Robert Bush, ASC president. “She is well-respected in the community and has created long-standing relationships with thought leaders, elected officials, companies, foundations and others.  She understands the role arts and culture has in building social capital and tackling community issues and priorities.”

Born in Oklahoma City and raised in Milwaukee, WI, she earned a B.A. from National-Louis University and a M.A. from Michigan State University.

“Toni has been a tremendous asset to the Mint Museum,” said Weston M. Andress, chairman of The Mint Museum’s Board of Trustees. “I know she will continue to share her passion, knowledge and dedication for a thriving arts and cultural community through her new role with ASC.  I’m glad she will continue to serve Charlotte’s cultural sector.”

About ASC
ASC is the chief advocate, resource hub and steward for the Charlotte- Mecklenburg region’s cultural community. Its core functions include advocacy, cultural education programs, cultural planning, fundraising, grant making, public art and workshops and trainings for the cultural community. ASC works to ensure Culture For All by combining resources from local and state government with those of the
private sector to maximize community impact throughout the cultural sector. ASC’s mission is to ensure access to an excellent, relevant, and sustainable cultural community for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region.

Museum to name interim leader, launch national search

The Mint Museum today announced its President & CEO Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson is leaving the museum on June 30, 2017.

The Mint Museum Board of Trustees will announce an interim president and launch a national search for her permanent replacement in the coming weeks.

“The Mint is most appreciative of Dr. Jameson’s strategic leadership in an especially difficult economic environment during the last seven years,” said Weston M. Andress, chairman of The Mint Museum’s Board of Trustees. “She is a leading voice for the arts and leaves the Mint in a strong position to move forward. We would like to thank Kathleen for her years of service.”

Dr. Jameson joined the Mint in 2010 from the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas. She brought a strong combination of curatorial expertise and programming, management, and academic experience to the Mint.

On arrival in Charlotte, she assisted with the move to the new Mint Museum Uptown, a 145,000-square-foot facility that is part of what is now Levine Center for the Arts. She guided the revitalization of the Mint on Randolph Road, as well. Mint Museum Randolph houses ceramics and Decorative Arts, Art of the Ancient Americas, African Art, and Fashion collections.

During her tenure, the Mint hosted numerous significant exhibitions, including Here & Now: 80 Years of Photography at the Mint, an exhibition curated by Dr. Jameson that was drawn from the Mint’s permanent collection of stunning photographs.

In 2013, the groundbreaking international exhibition Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World’s Fairs 1851-1939 opened featuring 200 objects shown at every major world’s fair during that pivotal time in history.

The next year, the museum opened Connecting the World: The Panama Canal at 100 on the centennial of the opening of the Panama Canal.

Currently on view through August 13 at Mint Museum Randolph is The Wyeths: Three Generations, Works from the Bank of America Collection. State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now opens at Mint Museum Uptown this coming Saturday, April 22, and remains on view through September 3, 2017.

Call to action to #SavetheNEA, #SavetheNEH, #SavetheIMLS

Dear Mint Museum supporter:

 
President Trump’s newly proposed budget – released Thursday – cuts all funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute for Museum & Library Services (IMLS), among other agencies and programs. These cuts would have serious negative implications for The Mint Museum, its annual operating budget, and the arts community at large.

Please join our effort to be heard by contacting your elected officials or engaging your networks or social media circles to give them factual context about the Mint and the value we provide the community. You can click here for a link to take action, and use #SavetheNEA, #SavetheNEH, and #SavetheIMLS on social media.

We have also provided some Questions & Answers below for you to use when talking to others. The arts matter – let’s do our part to help fight these proposed cuts. Thank you for all you do to make the Mint accessible, relevant, and vital to the global community we work to serve with excellence and passion every day.

Q. Does the Mint receive funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, or the Institute for Museum & Library Services? 

A. In recent years these three agencies have provided the Mint nearly $300,000 in critical funding.

Q. Which Mint programs have been supported by funding from the NEA, NEH, or IMLS? 

A. In addition to general operating support provided by the North Carolina Arts Council each year, NEA grants have assisted Sunday Fun Days; digitization of our collections; and our teen program NexGen Mint (with some funding also supporting summer camp scholarships this year). NEH funds have supported preservation assistance for our collections, and the IMLS supported community outreach during the centennial of Romare Bearden’s birth. Additionally, the NEA and IMLS have supported Mint Museum Uptown’s Lewis Family Gallery and Art Packs and ArtVenture scavenger hunts distributed to thousands of families.

Q. What would the Mint do if these agencies were eliminated? 

A. There are many unanswered questions, including whether or not our annual NCAC operating support will be reduced or eliminated. While the consistent annual support the Mint receives from federal sources is not a large portion of our operations, we would need to replace this funding in order to maintain our commitment to serving our community.

Q. What can supporters of the Mint do to help? 

A. Please share this nformation with your own networks. You can also contact your elected officials and ask them to support these or other sources of arts funding. And, most of all, you can continue to be ambassadors of the Mint to our community, sharing news about the exceptional art and programming the Mint provides, and advocating for the museum as a powerful force for tourism, economic development, education, engagement, and inspiration to the community at large.

Below is additional information from the Association of Art Museum Directors:

Reach of the NEA: 

*No other arts funder-public or private-sends funds to every congressional district in every state and to all the U.S. territories.

*The NEA and NEH don’t tell states what to do with the funds they receive. The states set their own priorities.

*The NEA and NEH’s investment in state and regional arts organizations helps to bolster a strong arts and culture ecosystem in United States. 

*The loss of the NEA / NEH / IMLS would have the greatest impact on rural areas, low-income areas, and schoolchildren, seniors, and veterans.

Economic Factors: 

*Taxpayer investment in the NEA and NEH is minimal, just 94 cents per capita, less than the cost of one cup of coffee each year; but, 

*The NEA has a huge impact for that minimal investment. On average, each dollar awarded by the NEA to an arts organization enables that organization to leverage nine dollars from other sources. 

*This makes the NEA an economic driver, generating more than $600 million annually in these matching funds.

Thank you again for your support of the Mint and for assisting us in this call to action.

Sincerely,

Kathleen V. Jameson, Ph.D.

President & CEO, The Mint Museum

Statement in response to HB2 adopted at April 11 meeting

On Monday April 11, The Mint Museum Board of Trustees adopted the following statement:

As The Mint Museum’s mission statement declares, “We are committed to engaging and inspiring ALL members of our global community.” In light of the recent passage of HB2, the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, we affirm our longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusiveness in all aspects of our work. In short, The Mint Museum promotes and embraces diversity, inclusion, and equality for ALL.

For further inquiries, please contact Hillary Cooper, Director of Advancement & Communications, at hillary.cooper@mintmuseum.org, or Leigh Dyer, Director of Public Relations & Publications, at leigh.dyer@mintmuseum.org.

Gary Blankemeyer is new Chief Financial Officer; Cynthia Moreno promoted to Director of Learning & Engagement

The Mint Museum has hired its first-ever Chief Financial Officer, and has promoted another staffer to become its new Director of Learning & Engagement. Gary Blankemeyer, who was most recently the Senior Vice President, Finance for the nonprofit Child Care Resources Inc., joins the Mint effective today, June 29, as the first person to hold the title of CFO. Cynthia Moreno, formerly Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning at the Mint for the past three years, is now Director of Learning & Engagement. She replaces Cheryl Palmer, who retired last year after more than 35 years leading the Mint’s educational programs.

“We are excited to welcome Gary on board as our museum’s first Chief Financial Officer, a role we have strengthened in recognition of our continued emphasis on growth and future sustainability,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the Mint. “His depth of experience will serve us well as we continue building a solid foundation to serve the community for many decades to come.”

Blankemeyer has over 20 years of accounting and finance experience. Prior to joining Child Care Resources, where he held responsibility for all financial activity, he spent 20 years at Bosch Rexroth Corp. in various senior financial and general management positions where he developed overall strategic, sales, and operational plans for various divisions of the manufacturing giant.

“The Mint Museum is such a significant member of our community, and is world-renowned in art and design. It truly is a great opportunity to be its CFO,” said Blankemeyer. “I am honored to join the Mint’s leadership and am really looking forward to this new, exciting chapter of my career.”

For the first time, the Mint worked with Charlotte-based executive search firm Search Solution Group to recruit and hire Blankemeyer. “Our contact Ashlyn Verot at Search Solution Group was a strong partner for this search process,” said Toni Freeman, the Mint’s Chief Operating Officer who led the CFO search. “The team used their extensive business network to identify and assess appropriate candidates for this position.” Added Blankemeyer: “I’m impressed with SSG’s growth, reputation in the community, and people.”

“The team at Search Solution Group is elated to work with a nonprofit organization as distinguished as The Mint Museum,” said Jeremy Gnozzo, founder and CEO. “It is a thrill to see everyone’s efforts result in the connection of a great candidate to a great institution. We look forward to growing our relationship with The Mint Museum, as well as their new CFO.”

New Learning & Engagement Director

Prior to joining the Mint in 2012, Moreno spent 18 years as Director of Education at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, which is Kentucky’s oldest and largest art museum. “During our years as co-workers, I had the pleasure of working with Cynthia on multiple exhibitions and gallery interpretation projects,” said Scott Erbes, chief curator for the Speed Museum. “Throughout, Cynthia and her team always found thoughtful, clever ways of engaging audiences of all ages. The Mint and its visitors will enjoy the energy and excitement Cynthia will bring to the galleries!”

Moreno’s promotion followed an extensive search process. “Cynthia emerged as the frontrunner among a strong pool of candidates. Her expertise, standing in the field, stakeholder engagement, and commitment to her team and the Mint will serve as a strong foundation for our next chapter,” said Jameson.

Other national leaders in the museum education field praised Moreno’s selection for the new role. “Cynthia will help raise the local, regional, and national profile of the Mint,” said Marianna Adams, president of Audience Focus, a museum visitor studies and research firm. Added Gwendolyn Kelly, who is part of the Leadership Louisville Connectors project: “The Mint and Charlotte families have received a gem of a gift in Cynthia Moreno.”

Moreno said she is looking forward to her new role. “I’m thrilled to lead the Mint’s Learning & Engagement team during this dynamic time in the museum’s development,” she said. “The Mint Museum is a truly amazing place. I’m excited have this rich opportunity to work with its world-class art collection, passionate volunteers, and team of creative colleagues.”

Mint prepares to launch expansion of its digitization project

The Mint Museum is preparing to launch an expansion of a project to digitize its art collection, thanks to a $100,000 grant from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The Mint was among 13 Charlotte arts organizations receiving $1 million in grants announced at a celebration Friday evening at Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts, site of the Knight-supported work of art SEA to SEE. The interactive installation was created by North Carolina artist Mel Chin, a former Artist-in-Residence at McColl Center for Art + Innovation. The work, which suggests the experience of walking between two oceans with two large glass hemispheres and video and sound components, is part of the Mint-organized exhibition Connecting the World: The Panama Canal at 100. The exhibition, commemorating the centennial of the Canal’s completion in 1914, will remain on view through February 1.

The new phase of the Knight grant will launch at the Mint following the closing of Panama Canal at 100. Building on previous grants received from the Knight and from the National Endowment for the Arts, the museum’s expanded digitization project will create virtual tours of the museum and its collections and special exhibitions, plus interviews with curators and artists. The project will enable local and global residents to virtually visit the museum through tools including Google Photosphere Imaging, which enables viewers to see detailed 3-D panoramas, and RTI Imaging, a photographic method allowing the interactive re-lighting of an object from any direction. The digitization work will focus in particular on 100 key works of art in the museum’s collection, including the signature works Threshold by Danny Lane and Mega Footprint Near the Hutch (May I Have this Dance?) by Sheila Hicks.

“The Mint is grateful to the Knight Foundation for its significant support of our efforts to continue to bring art to as many members of our global community as possible, both virtually and inside the museum’s walls,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, president & CEO of the Mint.

“Arts organizations are increasingly meeting their audiences where they are and often that’s online,” added Dennis Scholl, vice president of arts for Knight Foundation. “The Mint’s efforts have already engaged visitors with the high-quality programmatic video they have created. We look forward to more as they work to not just bring more eyes to the collection but enhance visitors’ experiences by providing engaging content.”

Above image from Mint Museum Uptown: Nancy Pierce Photo

Mint prepares to launch expansion of its digitization project

Mint Museum’s Senior Curator of Craft + Design and Fashion will be participating as one of three judges in this year’s Smithsonian Craft Show

Sandi Thorman Wins ‘Women to Watch’ Award from Accounting Association

Sandi Thorman, the partner-in-charge of the tax department at Charlotte accounting firm GreerWalker LLP and Finance Committee Chair for the Mint’s Board of Trustees, has won a 2013 “Women to Watch” award from the N.C. Association of Certified Public Accountants.

The NCACPA award recognizes experienced individuals who make “notable contributions to the accounting profession, their organizations, and the development of women as leaders.” Thorman received the award at the Oct. 22 Professional Women’s Conference in Raleigh.

“This award validates what we at GreerWalker have known for some time: that Sandi is an outstanding leader who works tirelessly on behalf of her clients, our firm and the Charlotte community,” said GreerWalker partner Michael A. McNamara. “She has an amazing work ethic and is known for her integrity, knowledge and professionalism delivered with a sincere and caring approach.”

In addition to her work at GreerWalker and the Mint, Thorman is heavily involved in the community. She has served as treasurer of other local non-profit organizations including the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Dress for Success Charlotte, Charlotte Chamber Music, and InReach.

Sandi O. Thorman

About GreerWalker

Founded in Charlotte in 1984, GreerWalker provides assurance, accounting, tax and business advisory services to a diversified client base of privately held middle-market companies doing business throughout the Carolinas and around the world. Affiliates include GreerWalker Wealth Management and GreerWalker Corporate Finance. For more information about the firm, call 704-377-0239 or visit the GreerWalker greerwalker.com.

Director of Fine Arts and Curator of the Mint’s internationally-renowned Fashion Collection to retire

The Mint Museum is preparing to bid farewell to its beloved and longest-serving curator as Charles L. Mo, Director of Fine Arts and Curator of the Mint’s internationally-renowned Fashion Collection, announces his retirement effective September 30, 2013.

Hired in 1984, Mo was the first professional art historian and curator in the Mint’s history. Over the years he has overseen the museum’s American, European, and Asian art collections, and was responsible for building the Spanish Colonial collection from four items to several hundred works of art. For the last 15 years, he has also served as curator of the Fashion Collection, which has received attention from sources as diverse as Marie Claire magazine, Project Runway judge Nina Garcia’s Pinterest account, and MTV’s fashion blog under his watch. Today, the collection is the museum’s second-largest, and comprises over 10,000 objects that span three centuries.

“These many years at The Mint Museum have blessed me with so many positive and rewarding experiences,” said Mo. “These range from the growth of the collections to the numerous, important exhibitions that have been presented to this great community, and beyond.  I also acknowledge the countless number of museum members, donors, patrons, trustees, board of directors and the incredible staff that bring their talents and experiences to enrich this institution. I am most fortunate and, yet, I shall miss so much of the daily wonders of this great museum. As a most gratifying chapter closes for me, I look forward to a new chapter, its challenges and its rewards!”

During his career, Mo has served as Project Curator for such internationally important exhibitions as Treasures of Tutankhamun, Treasures of Chatsworth, Peru’s Golden Treasures, and Ramesses the Great, among others. He also organized Splendors of the New World, Allure of East Asia, Dressed to Impress, Art of Affluence,Andy Warhol Portfolios: Life & Legend, CHANEL: Designs for the Modern Woman, Fashionable Silhouettes, and Dior, Balmain, Saint Laurent: Elegance & Ease(currently on view at Mint Museum Randolph through January12, 2014), among many others at the Mint. He holds memberships in the American Association of Museum Curators and the Costume Society of America. Mo holds a B.F.A. and an M.A. in Art History from Louisiana State University.

“Charles’ tremendous influence and impact span significant eras in The Mint Museum’s history,” said Cheryl Palmer, the Mint’s director of Learning & Engagement, who has worked with Mo during his entire tenure at the Mint. “He joined the staff when the Dalton wing was under construction in the early 1980s, and the museum was more than doubling in size and literally turning its front entrance “face” to Randolph Road and the community at large. A few years later, Charles served as the museum’s curator in charge for the Ramesses the Great: The Pharaoh and His Time exhibition – a mammoth international undertaking, and a landmark event for the museum and for the city. Over the decades, he supervised major exhibitions of European and American masterpiece paintings, and he curated several important shows of works by Romare Bearden. Charles’ interests are truly global and encyclopedic.”

Annie Carlano, formerly Director of Craft + Design soon to be Senior Curator of Craft, Design, & Fashion, will assume responsibility for the Fashion Collection upon Charles’ departure.  The collections of Native American, Mexican, and Mayan art will also be under her care.  Carlano is uniquely qualified to oversee these specific areas, having been Curator of Costume and Textiles at the Wasdsworth Athenuem, Hartford, CT, and The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, as well as Senior Curator at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

“Charles has done a remarkable job in building a world class collection of fashion, based on his broad knowledge of costume history, and vast network of contacts,” said Annie Carlano, Senior Curator of Craft, Design, and Fashion.   “The exhibitions he has curated demonstrate his great expertise in all the details that comprise an historic fashion ensemble, from the dress, to the shoes, fan, jewelry, and millinery.  He studies period hairstyles and interprets them so beautifully with white paper.  Something I particularly admire about Charles is his artistry in creating the perfect silhouette for an 18^th century robe a l’anglasie or an 1880s ballgown with bustle.”

Jonathan Stuhlman, the Mint’s Curator of American Art since 2006, will assume responsibility for the Ancient Americas, Spanish Colonial, and African Art collections currently under Charles’ purview in his expanded role as Senior Curator of Modern, Contemporary and American Art.

“The Mint Museum has been so fortunate to have Charles as one of its greatest treasures. His influence, wisdom, kindness, and passion will be acknowledged and admired for years to come. The Mint would not be the institution it is today without his leadership, grace, infinite style and profound impact.,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the Mint.. “We will also look forward to celebrating Charles in the months ahead, both privately and publicly, and his invaluable contributions during his remarkable 30 year tenure with the museum.”

Kathryn Oosterhuis and Rachel Ellis are exceptional new hires.

The Mint Museum has hired two new staff members to round out its team. After a national search, Kathryn Oosterhuis has been hired to fill the new position of Archivist for The Mint Museum. She will be responsible for developing and managing the archives to keep an accurate, well-preserved record of the museum’s holdings and activities. Rachel Ellis has been hired as the Membership Manager to further the development of the museum and its membership program.

The creation of the Archivist position is enabled by a Documenting Democracy grant awarded by the National Historical Records and Publications Commission (NHRPC) to The Mint Museum for the initiation and development of its museum archives. The NHRPC is a statutory body affiliated with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and supports a wide range of activities to preserve, publish, and encourage the use of documentary sources, created in every medium, relating to the history of the United States.

The museum was awarded more than $45,000 from the NHPRC last year. The Mint was founded in 1936 as North Carolina’s first art museum, but its history goes back even further, reflecting significant historical data on the culture and society of both Charlotte and the region. The NHPRC’s grant also enables the museum to establish a physical space for the archives and initiate a museum-wide program to ensure that its history is preserved and made accessible to the community – now, and in the future.

“This is another huge step forward in establishing the Mint as a vibrant and relevant cultural leader. Sharing our history with the community furthers the Mint’s ability to serve as center of excellence in collections, exhibitions, scholarship, learning, engagement, and service. By strongly preserving our history, we are better poised to step into the future,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the Mint.

“Not only do the funds received from the grant award enable us to document, preserve, and make accessible the records of the history of The Mint Museum, but the award of the grant itself is significant. The Documenting Democracy: Access to Historical Records Projects awards are given to support projects that preserve documentary heritage considered essential to understanding American democracy, history, and culture. The award of this grant is a profound recognition of the Mint’s role in the history of this city, the region, even the country,” said Joyce Weaver, the Mint’s librarian.

Oosterhuis was archivist for the YMCA Minneapolis collection at the Kautz YMCA archives at the University of Minnesota and Project Archivist at the James K. Hosmer Special Collections of Hennepin County Library. Her previous involvements also include archival work with the American Craft Council, a national organization founded to raise awareness and celebrate the American craft movement; work with the American Swedish Institute’s library and archive collection; and work with the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Oosterhuis received her Master of Information and Library Science degree from St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, Minn.

“The range of experience Kathryn brings to the Archivist position will be instrumental in the success of the grant project and the development of our museum archives. I am believe she will be an invaluable asset to the museum and the community,” said Weaver.

Rachel Ellis has worked in the nonprofit industry for most of her professional career, focusing on development and donor relationships. She is excited to return to the museum world, having graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Art History and Museum Studies and prior work with the Amon Carter Museum and the Mayborn Museum Complex in Texas.

The Mint Museum is committed to providing an excellent membership experience, sponsoring many exclusive programs for its members throughout the year, such as First Look Fridays, where members get a private first glance at new exhibitions.

“As the Mint ramps up its general membership cultivation efforts, Rachel is the perfect person to assume the post of Membership Manager for the museum. Her rich experience and expertise, and passion for driving membership, will help us achieve our goal to have 20,000 members by 2016 through inspiring and engaging our global community,” said Jameson.

Ellis has lived in Charlotte since 2011 and most recently headed Individual Gifts & Member Services for Blumenthal Performing Arts.

(Above image: Ellis, left, and Oosterhuis, right.)

Grant supporting digital documentation of art was one of 817 given nationwide

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa announced this week that The Mint Museum is one of 817 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. The Mint Museum’s $40,000 grant will support the digital cataloguing of the museum’s collection.

The Mint Museum intends to use the grant on a digitization project, ensuring that the museum’s collection is properly catalogued for posterity and is easily accessible. The museum is committed to improving public access to art and will further that initiative through this venture. Documenting The Mint Museum’s holdings in digital high-definition will bring the collection into the 21st century and the homes of art lovers across the world.

Acting Chairman Shigekawa said: “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support these exciting and diverse arts projects that will take place throughout the United States. Whether it is through a focus on education, engagement, or innovation, these projects all contribute to vibrant communities and memorable opportunities for the public to engage with the arts.”

“The Mint is pleased to receive this national support for preserving its collection for many generations to come,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of The Mint Museum.

In August 2012, the NEA received 1,547 eligible applications for Art Works grants requesting more than $80 million in funding. Art Works grants support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts. The 817 recommended NEA grants total $26.3 million and span 13 artistic disciplines and fields. Applications were reviewed by panels of outside experts convened by NEA staff and each project was judged on its artistic excellence and artistic merit.

For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, please visit the NEA website at arts.gov.

Click here for new hires, new Happenings, and more at the Mint!

Here’s a sampling of our latest news releases:

–An update on the Mint’s Project Ten Ten Ten

–Three new hires: An accomplished educator; an experienced Chief Registrar; a versatile Latino Community Education Liaison

–Winners in the Mint’s innovative “Vote for Art” project

–Upcoming 2013 exhibitions

And much more!

Stay tuned for more exciting updates in 2013!

Above image credit:

Kate Malone. British, 1959-
Mr. and Mrs. Tutti Atomic  2012
Stoneware
Project Ten Ten Ten commission. Museum Purchase: Founder’s Circle 2011 Annual Cause with additional funds provided by Suzu and David Neithercut, Libba and Mike Gaither, Carol and Shelton Gorelick, and Adrian Sassoon. 2012.13A-B
Photograph by Andrew Smart

Cynthia Moreno is new Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning

Cynthia Moreno, a career art museum educator who has collaborated with top museums around the country during nearly two decades as a museum education director, has joined The Mint Museum’s staff in the new position of Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning.

Moreno was previously Director of Education at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, which is Kentucky’s oldest and largest art museum, for 18 years. There she directed innovative programs for schools, families, youth, and adults. She successfully implemented grant projects funded by major organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts and the Wallace Fund, and initiated numerous community partnerships. She founded the Speed’s award-winning interactive gallery Art Sparks, which serves as a national model for engaging children and families in hands-on learning experiences. Working with colleagues at the High Museum in Atlanta and Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville, she guided extensive research at the Speed on family learning in art museums (see www.familiesinartmuseums.org for more information). She has an active record of presentations and publications and has served in leadership roles with professional associations including the American Alliance of Museums, the National Art Education Association, and Southeastern Museum Association.  Moreno has also been recognized by her peers as one of the outstanding art museum educators in the Southeastern United States. A Florida native, she received two B.A. degrees in Humanities and Mass Communications, and a M.A. in Art Education and Arts Administration from the University of South Florida.

“Cynthia Moreno’s extensive experience in museum programming, assessment, and planning will reap many benefits,” said Cheryl Palmer, the Mint’s Director of Learning and Engagement. “Cynthia’s leadership in innovative and creative interpretive efforts at the Speed Art Museum, and her successes with national grants and research, are impressive and inspiring. With Cynthia’s ideas and energy, I am confident that the Mint will be able to engage and serve even more families, students and adults.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Mint’s staff at such an exciting time of growth and expansion,” said Moreno. “The Mint Museum has a national profile for its strong collections and dynamic exhibitions.  Cheryl Palmer, the Mint’s Director of Learning and Engagement, is recognized as a leader in the field of museum education and community outreach.”

Moreno is part of a recent string of hires that are deepening the Mint’s expertise and helping it reach new populations. In recent weeks, the museum has also announced the hiring of Ana Lucia Divins in the newly-created position of Latino Community Education Liaison, and of Michele Leopold as the museum’s new Chief Registrar.

“We are pleased to see the Mint’s staff continue to acquire new expertise to match its leading, innovative collections, programming, and facilities,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the Mint. “Cynthia’s extensive knowledge and experience will help the Mint become an even more valuable asset for people of all ages in Charlotte, the region, and the world.”

Michele Leopold to join the Mint’s staff in December

Following a six-month national search, Michele Leopold has been hired as the Mint’s new Chief Registrar, playing a key role in overseeing the museum’s collections and exhibitions.

“Michele will bring an extraordinary background to the Mint; we considered some of the top talents in the field from across the nation for this position, but she stood far and above other candidates,” said Kristen Watts, the Mint’s director of collections & exhibitions.

“My career has taken me to many fine institutions around the world, and I consider The Mint Museum to be one of those. I am excited to work with the museum’s outstanding collection and support its ambitious exhibition schedule,” said Leopold. “It is an honor to be a part of such a wonderful team of professionals.”

Leopold brings to the Mint over 20 years of experience in museum logistics, risk management, insurance knowledge, traveling exhibitions, and more. She has worked for institutions including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.; the Atlanta History Center in Atlanta, Georgia; the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida; and the Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency in Washington, D.C., where she supervised a fine art team. Most recently, she joined the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2009 as one of its founding staff members. She helped oversee the planning, construction, and installation of the hall’s exhibitions for its inaugural 2010 opening and has continued to maintain and manage its collections and exhibitions since.

Leopold replaces Martha Mayberry, who retired in May after 36 years on the Mint’s staff. “We are thrilled to welcome someone of Michele’s caliber to The Mint Museum,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the Mint. “We look forward to putting Michele’s many talents to work. Building, and caring for, our collections and exhibitions is paramount to everything we do and Michele will help lead this charge in her new role.”

Ana Lucia Divins is part of a broader museum-wide effort to increase outreach

The Mint Museum has created a new staff position, Latino Community Education Liaison, as part of a comprehensive effort to broaden and diversify its base of visitors and members, and expand its bilingual community engagement.

A well-known local arts leader, Ana Lucia Divins, has been hired and assumed  her new role at the Mint this month. She was born in Colombia and has lived in Charlotte since 2000. She is a gifted singer-songwriter, and a leader in Art Sí, Con A de Arte, and the Gil Project, among others. She also has extensive corporate experience in project management, communications, marketing, and business initiatives with Bank of America and Wachovia (now Wells Fargo). She led two important efforts for Crossroads Charlotte and the Community Building Initiative in 2011, developing outreach strategies and facilitating community dialogues. Divins holds a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana of Cali, Colombia. She was selected for the 2008-2010 William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations, part of the Wildacres Leadership Initiative. She and her husband Brad have two children, Nicholas and Natalie Sofia.

The staff position and associated efforts are being funded by a generous grant from Duke Energy.

“We are pleased to welcome Ana Lucia Divins to our staff, and her hiring is just one of a series of efforts that cross all areas and departments of the museum,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the Mint. “We are grateful for Duke Energy’s support which made this critical initiative possible.”

Cheryl Palmer, the Mint’s director of learning and engagement, said the effort fits into values the Mint has long been putting into practice. “We strive to be welcoming and accessible to our entire community, and this Latino initiative is just the latest evidence of that,” she said.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue strengthen the connections between The Mint Museum and the diverse Latino community,” said Divins. “I am looking forward to tackling this exciting work, from expanding connections with the community to leading the development of bilingual materials and programs within the museum.”

Prior to the Democratic National Convention in September, the Mint created bilingual versions of its visitor guides and general information cards. In September, Mint Museum Uptown hosted the Hola Charlotte 2012 cultural festival in cooperation with the Latin American Women’s Association and Norsan Media, which led nearly 2,000 people to visit the museum during the festival. This month, the museum launched a FREE monthly bilingual storytime at Mint Museum Randolph with local performing duo Criss, Cross, Mangosauce (of which Divins is a member). Many of the museum’s educational publications are routinely now translated into Spanish. And, in spring 2013, two of the special exhibitions at Mint Museum Uptown will be fully bilingual, with all text panels and labels translated into Spanish. Sociales: Débora Arango Arrives Today, which runs February 23-June 16 and is organized by Museo de Arte de Medellín (MAMM), Colombia, in collaboration with the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA), Long Beach, California, for its U.S. tour; and F.O.O.D. (Food, Objects, Objectives, Design), which runs March 2 through July 7 and is organized by The Mint Museum with Food Cultura, Barcelona. Future efforts will also be aimed at strengthening the Mint’s Latin American art and design collections and initiating collaborations with community organizations around Latino art and artists.

For more information about the initiative or interviews with Ana Lucia Divins, please contact Public Relations Manager Leigh Dyer.

Mint contrata nueva posición que servirá de puente con la comunidad Latina
Ana Lucia Divins es parte de una amplia iniciativa para aumentar los esfuerzos de compromiso con la comunidad
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (29 de Octubre, 2012) – El museo Mint ha creado una nueva posición, Enlace con la Comunidad Hispana/Latina.  Esta iniciativa es parte de un esfuerzo significativo para expandir y diversificar la base de visitantes y miembros del museo, así como ampliar los programas comunitarios bilingües.

Ana Lucia Divins es una reconocida líder de las artes en la ciudad y ha sido contratada para asumir su nuevo cargo en el museo Mint a partir de este mes. Ella es de Colombia y ha vivido en Charlotte desde el año 2000. Es también una talentosa cantautora que ha liderado iniciativas artísticas con ArtSi, Con A de Arte, y Gil Project, entre otros. Ana Lucia combina su pasión por el arte con su experiencia corporativa en gerencia de proyectos, comunicaciones y mercadeo con Bank of America y Wachovia (ahora Wells Fargo). En el 2011, lideró dos esfuerzos de gran importancia para Crossroads Charlotte y Community Building Initiative, desarrollando estrategias de compromiso con la comunidad y facilitando diálogos.  Ana Lucia se graduó de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Cali, Colombia con el título de Ingeniería Industrial.  Fue elegida para ser parte de un programa de aprendizaje de relaciones humanas William C. Friday Fellowship parte de la iniciativa de liderazgo Wildacres entre el 2008 y el 2010.  Ella y su esposo Brad tienen dos niños, Nicholas y Natalie Sofia.

Esta posición y los esfuerzos mencionados han sido posible gracias a una contribución (grant) generosa por parte de Duke Energy.

“Le damos la bienvenida a Ana Lucia Divins al museo, y su posición es solamente el principio de una serie de esfuerzos que involucrarán a todas las áreas y departamentos del museo” dice Dr. Katlhleen V. Jameson, Presidente y CEO del Mint. “Estamos muy agradecidos por el apoyo de Duke Energy, lo cual ha hecho posible esta importante iniciativa”.

Cheryl Palmer, la directora de aprendizaje y compromiso con la comunidad, dice que este esfuerzo está totalmente alineado con los valores que el Mint ha puesto en práctica por muchos años. “Nosotros nos esforzamos por ser accesibles y acogedores para toda la comunidad, y esta iniciativa Latina es una evidencia de lo mismo”, dice ella.

“Estoy muy agradecida por la oportunidad de continuar fortaleciendo las conexiones entre el museo Mint y la diversa comunidad Latina”, dice Divins. “Estoy lista para empezar a desempeñar este trabajo tan emocionante, desde expandir los enlaces en la comunidad hasta liderar el desarrollo de más materiales y programas bilingües en el museo”.

Antes de la Convención Nacional Democrática (DNC) en septiembre,  el Mint creó versiones bilingües de sus guías de visitantes y tarjetas de información en general. En septiembre, el museo Mint Uptown sirvió de sede para el festival cultural Hola Charlotte 2012 colaborando con la asociación de mujeres Latinoamericanas (LAWA) y Norsan Media, lo cual resultó en la visita de cerca de 2,000 personas al museo durante el festival. Este mes, el museo lanzó un programa mensual de hora de cuentos bilingües para familias, GRATIS, en el museo Mint de Randolph con el duo Criss Cross Mangosauce (del cual Divins hace parte). Muchas de las publicaciones educativas del museo  son traducidas al español como parte del proceso normal.

Y, en la primavera del 2013, dos exhibiciones especiales en el museo Mint de Uptown serán totalmente bilingües, con todos los textos, paneles y anuncios traducidos al español. Sociales: Débora Arango llega hoy, la cual se presentará entre el 23 de Febrero y el 16 de Junio y es organizada por el Museo de Arte de Medellín (MAMM), Colombia, en colaboración con el Museo de Arte Latino Americano (MOLAA), Long Beach, California, para su tour en los Estados Unidos; y F.O.O.D.  (Comida, objetos, objetivos y diseños por las siglas en inglés) que corre desde el 2 de Marzo al 7 de Julio y es organizada por el museo Mint en colaboración con Food Cultura, Barcelona. Esfuerzos en el futuro incluyen el incrementar la colección de arte y diseño Latino Americano del Mint de arte y diseños y estableciendo colaboraciones con organizaciones de la comunidad alrededor de artes y artistas Latinos.

Para mayor información sobre la iniciativa y entrevistas con Ana Lucia Divins, por favor contacte a la Gerente de Relaciones Públicas Leigh Dyer.

SOBRE EL MUSEO MINT

Como uno de los museos más antiguos de Carolina del Norte, con una de las colecciones más grandes del Sureste, el museo Mint ofrece a sus visitantes experiencias inspiradoras y transformadoras a través del arte y diseño internacional y programas educativos. El museo Mint es una organización de arte visual sin fines de lucro con dos localidades: museo Mint Uptown y museo Mint Randolph.

El museo Mint de Randoph está ubicado donde se encontraba la oficina original del United States Mint, el museo abrió sus puertas en 1936 en el vecindario del este de Charlotte como el primer museo de arte del estado.

Hoy, en la mitad de un bello parque, las galerías íntimas invitan a los visitantes a envolverse con el arte de vieja America, cerámicas y arte decorativo, moda, arte europeo y africano, entre otras colecciones.   Entre los recursos se incluye una biblioteca con más de 18.000 libros, un teatro para charlas y presentaciones, y una tienda en el museo que ofrece productos que complementa tanto las colecciones permanentes como las exhibiciones especiales.

El museo Mint de Uptown alberga una colección de artesanía y diseño, así como una excelente colección de arte americano, contemporáneo y europeo. Diseñado por Machado y Silvetti Associates, esta construcción de cinco pisos y 145.000 pies cuadrados, combina arquitectura inspiradora con exhibiciones de vanguardia  para ofrecer a los visitantes experiencias educativas y culturales inigualables.  Ubicado en el corazón de Charlotte, el museo Mint de Uptown es una parte integral del Levine Center for the Arts, un campo cultural que incluye el museo de arte moderno Bechtler, el Harvey B. Gantt Center de artes y cultural afro-americana, el teatro Knight, y el Duke Energy Center. El museo Mint de Uptown también incluye una serie de espacios para el visitante, incluyendo el Auditorio James B. Duke con capacidad para 240 personas, la galería de la familia Lewis, estudios de arte, un restaurante, y una tienda del museo. Para mayor información, visite el NUEVO mintmuseum.org.

Museum charts ambitious course for 2016

CHARLOTTE, NC (April 13, 2012) – The Mint Museum has defined what its success will look like in five years. In a sweeping five-year strategic plan recently approved by its Board of Trustees, the museum adopted a new mission statement that outlines its role as an increasingly vital player on the national and international level. The new statement reads: “The Mint Museum is a leading, innovative museum of international art and design committed to engaging and inspiring all members of our global community.”

“The Mint’s new, enhanced mission invites and welcomes all of our community to engage with the museum in ways most relevant to them,” said Jay Everette, Wells Fargo’s senior vice president, community affairs manager and chair-elect of the Mint’s board of trustees. “Whether connecting through in-person or online education, visiting a compelling exhibition or attending a community event at one of our locations, the Mint is a resource for learning more about, and bringing meaning to, the world around us.”

In the five-year plan, the museum has set ambitious goals including:

• Doubling annual attendance to 400,000 visitors, and increasing virtual visitors to 800,000 annually;
• Launching an aggressive plan to strengthen the museum’s collections through the acquisition of significant works of art;
• Increasing its digital reach, beginning with the launch of a new website in May;
• Organizing at least two traveling exhibitions per year with national and international impact, and securing at least three highly significant exhibitions from elsewhere annually;
• Tripling the number of museum members to 12,000 and increasing the number of individual investors by 50 percent;
• Completing a feasibility study of the renovation and re-envisioning of the museum’s Randolph Road location, to include such factors as a North Carolina Pottery Research Center, classroom space, studios, a children’s center, and increased public access to the museum’s library.

“This plan is a broad, inclusive call to action and a statement of The Mint Museum’s commitment to the fundamental relationship between artistic expression and community,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the Mint. “All of the museum’s resources must be employed in service to the community, for The Mint Museum is a vital cultural resource for the region, and this plan charts our course.”

Over the course of the past year, museum staff, volunteers, and community leaders have worked together, in consultation with the Center for Intentional Leadership, to outline four strategic pillars to undergird the plan: amplifying the museum’s community relevance; strengthening the museum’s permanent collections and exhibitions; increasing learning and engagement opportunities throughout the region; and focusing on long-term sustainability. In addition, three overarching goals of improved technology, communication, and service are woven throughout the plan.

Employees, volunteers, and museum affiliate groups outlined dozens of specific tactics they will employ in support of the goals and strategies. Progress will be measured by such performance indicators as attendance, visitor surveys, increased participation in educational programs, and increased giving to the museum.

Many of the goals will be accomplished by refocusing existing resources, but others will require new forms of investment. The plan incorporates key planning and assessment strategies to determine the scope of critical priorities outlined by the museum.

“The museum must continue to build its collections, resources, support, and infrastructure to achieve national prominence as a center of excellence and inspiration,” said Jameson. “The arts increasingly play a critical role in the ‘creative economy’ and in cultural tourism, contributing to economic development and a high quality of life. The Mint Museum will play a leading role in this crucial aspect of our dynamic and changing environment with this pragmatic, thoughtful plan for sustainable growth.”

Added Richard T. “Stick” Williams, the Mint’s board of trustees chair and president, Duke Energy Foundation: “The Charlotte region has provided an extraordinary new uptown facility to The Mint Museum, and we must deliver excellence in return. This strategic plan is just the road map we need to accomplish that.”

Copies of the complete plan, and interviews with Dr. Jameson, are available upon request.

Jameson is one of five 2012 Legacy honorees.

Charlotte, N.C. (March 8, 2012)– Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of The Mint Museum, is one of five honorees in Leadership Charlotte’s 2012 Legacy Awards, Leadership Charlotte has announced.

The organization will celebrate the 2012 Legacy Awards honorees at its annual event on Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 a.m. at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Legacy Awards honor Charlotte leaders who create lasting change and measurable difference in our community.

Newcomer of the Year Award: Dr. Kathleen Jameson

The recipient of this award has lived in Charlotte five years or less and has actively sought opportunities to improve the quality of life in our community. As the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mint Museum, Dr. Jameson has worked to increase community involvement in the arts through collaborations and programming initiatives. Last fall, more than 10,000 fifth graders toured the Romare Bearden exhibition through a partnership with the Arts and Science Council and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Community Service Award: YWCA of the Central Carolinas

The recipient of this award has enriched and improved the quality of life in our community through creativity and innovation in community service. YWCA of the Central Carolinas provides affordable housing for women, child care for working parents, and a membership-based health and fitness center. The organization also offers community events that provide a safe place to learn about and discuss the difficult topics of racism and women’s empowerment.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Bishop George Battle

The recipient of this award has demonstrated a commitment to serving the community and made significant contributions to the betterment of Charlotte. A former Chair of the Mecklenburg County Board of Education and staunch education advocate, Bishop Battle created the Greater Enrichment Program and founded the Charlotte Mecklenburg Alliance for Public Schools. He also co-founded Urban League of the Central Carolinas and has served on numerous corporate and non-profit boards.

Schley R. Lyons Circle of Excellence Award: Harry L. Jones, Sr.

The recipient of this award must be a graduate of Leadership Charlotte and demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities in keeping with the ideals of Leadership Charlotte. Jones began serving as the fourth County Manager of Mecklenburg County in October 2000. He is responsible for overseeing the County’s $1.3 billion budget, managing its 4,400 full-time employees, and serving more than 900,000 residents.

Unsung Hero Award: Lisa Quisenberry

The recipient of this award works quietly behind the scenes for the good of the community, demonstrating leadership through dedication and service to Charlotte. Quisenberry is co-founder of Hands On Charlotte, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2011. Under her leadership, Hands On Charlotte built collaborations with more than 150 partner agencies and schools; created volunteer opportunities for more than 7,000 individuals per year; established a premier program for corporate volunteer engagement; and presented signature programs including Hands On Charlotte Day, Martin Luther King Day Service Forum, and 9/11 Week of Service.

Media Contact: Elizabeth McKee 704.688.2888

About Leadership Charlotte

The mission of Leadership Charlotte is to develop and enhance volunteer community leadership by providing a diverse group of emerging and existing leaders with the opportunity to increase their community knowledge, civic network, and service to the community. For more information, visit leadershipcharlotte.org or call 704.688.2888.

Mint Museum President & CEO Kathleen V. Jameson announces the newly-created post, effective February 13.

CHARLOTTE, NC (February 6, 2012) –Mint Museum President &
CEO Kathleen V. Jameson has announced the hiring of Toni L. Freeman to the
newly-created post of Chief Operating Officer of The Mint Museum. She
will join the staff effective February 13.

“This hire represents the latest step in an exciting
period of growth for the museum,” Jameson said in a statement to the
Mint’s staff and board of trustees. “Toni is an entrepreneurial and
strategic thinker who can help continue our journey toward being an innovative
leader among art museums nationwide.”

Freeman joins the Mint from Mecklenburg Citizens for Public
Education (MeckEd), a local education fund. “I’m thrilled to be joining the
Mint during such an exciting period of expansion, and I look forward to working
with its staff and President & CEO Kathleen Jameson to help bring it to the
next level,” Freeman said.

Freeman will report to the President & CEO and will be a
critical member of the museum’s senior management team who participates in
long-range planning and overall management of the museum. She will oversee key
departments including finance, facilities management, information technology,
special events, and the museum shop. She will also manage the museum’s
risk-management program and serve as liaison for legal matters.

Freeman has held many leadership positions in philanthropy
and finance over more than 20 years of executive management experience.
Previously she served as the Director of Donor and Business Relations at
MeckEd. As the former Director of Project Research and Evaluation at The Duke
Endowment (1999-2008), Freeman was responsible for analyzing grant trends and
results. She was also previously Senior Vice President of Finance,
Administration, and Membership at the Charlotte Convention and Visitors Bureau
and Corporate Associate Vice President at SunHealth (Premier).

She is the president-elect of the Association of Junior
Leagues International and is a founding board member and past chair of the
Charlotte Women’s Impact Fund. She served as chair of Women Executives for
Community Services, which manages a scholarship program for nontraditional
students. She serves as a Trustee for the YWCA of the Central Carolinas.
Freeman was a board director of Hospice of Charlotte Region and Lincoln County,
NPower Charlotte Region, Teen Health Connection, and Habitat for Humanity.

New daily offers site chooses Mint as one of its first partners in Charlotte

You’ve heard of Groupon, LivingSocial and Dealsaver. Now, Google is launching its own daily deal platform, Google Offers (www.google.com/offers), and has chosen The Mint Museum as one of its first partners in the Charlotte area.

Google Offers, which launched in Charlotte in recent days and is now live in 38 cities across the U.S., sought out a partnership with The Mint Museum because of its strategic importance as one of the largest art museums in the Southeast. Starting today through February 3, the Mint is offering two admission tickets for the price of one – a $20 value for $10. Each person may purchase up to five of the offers, or 10 tickets total.

“Google Offers gives us the opportunity to use Google’s reach to increase the awareness of our museum and its offerings to residents and visitors in Charlotte. Also, we hope our Google Offer will draw audiences to the museum that we may not have previously reached through traditional media and marketing initiatives,” said Hillary Cooper, director of marketing and communications for the Mint.

Visit www.google.com/offers to sign up for Google Offers in Charlotte. The URL for the Mint offer is http://goo.gl/18G0F. Media who wish to request interviews with Google about Google Offers in Charlotte may email inquiries to press@google.com.

The Mint Museum has hired Brad Thomas as its new curator of contemporary art effective January 23, Mint President & CEO Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson has announced.

 The Mint Museum has hired Brad Thomas as its new curator of contemporary art effective January 23, Mint President & CEO Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson has announced.

Thomas has served as the director and curator of the Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College since 1999. The newly-created Mint position is a reflection of the opportunities brought by the opening of the Mint Museum Uptown building in fall 2010. “This is a tremendous step in strengthening the museum’s commitment to modern and contemporary art, which will be a strategic priority over the next five years and beyond,” Jameson said. “Brad brings great strengths to the museum, adding depth and further expertise.”

For Thomas, the move is a natural step after more than 20 years in the local arts community. “As an undergraduate art student at UNC Charlotte in the early 90s, I was acutely aware of the sometimes polarizing nature of the arts in this community,” Thomas said. “I am excited to join The Mint Museum and its talented team of curators at this critical juncture when the arts are now a unifying source of cultural pride and identity.”

During Thomas’ tenure at Davidson, he organized dozens of exhibitions and collaborative projects, including the international artists-in-residency project Force of Nature, which centered on site-specific installations by ten Japanese artists at seven American institutions. Thomas has also led initiatives to integrate visual art into the learning experience, most notably through the establishment of Davidson’s Campus Sculpture Program, which features major outdoor installations by Magdalena Abakanowicz, Antony Gormley, Joel Shapiro, and William Tucker. He also produced publications on Magdalena Abakanowicz, Ewan Gibbs, Herb Jackson, Robert Lazzarini, Reverend McKendree Robbins Long, and Joel Shapiro. His partnership with the College Writing Program in 2012 led to the release of Davidson Collects: 100 Writers Respond to Art, the first interdisciplinary book on Davidson College’s permanent art collection, which features 100 essays on selected works by undergraduate students from a wide variety of majors.

Thomas will work closely with Carla Hanzal, curator of modern and contemporary art, and the rest of the Mint’s curatorial staff.

Museum staffers will design and install a custom creation in a deserving local family’s home

December 2012 update: At right is an image of the completed family photo timeline featuring graphic design work by The Mint Museum and designer Elyse Frederick, to be featured on the December 17, 2012 broadcast of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

The Mint Museum is assisting in the local effort to give a deserving family an “extreme home makeover” as part of ABC’s Emmy award-winning television reality show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

As the show’s producers prepared to select a winning family from the Charlotte area to receive a new home, they approached The Mint Museum in recent weeks to ask for assistance creating and installing a graphic design project involving family photos that will be a focal point of the family’s new living room. Mint Museum Graphic Designer Elyse Frederick and Design & Installation Director Kurt Warnke are leading this effort with support from additional team members. Charlotte company Kenny Color Lab (www.kennycolor.com) agreed to donate the necessary materials and services to produce the museum’s design. “Kenny Color Lab is thrilled to have an opportunity to help a deserving local family and collaborate with The Mint Museum on this project,” said Kenny Flippin, the company’s vice president.

The work will be installed during the build, which is taking place in Lincolnton December 11 through December 17 and is being spearheaded by local builder Bellamy Homes.

Museum staffers were touched by the winning local family’s story after learning they have taken in dozens of local foster children over the years, and recently adopted a group of five siblings. The museum’s contribution to the home will incorporate photos of the family to honor their love and generosity. The creation of the project will be documented and displayed at the museum’s website, mintmuseum.org, after it is completed. The build is scheduled to air in December 2012 with a two-hour special broadcast on ABC.

“The show’s design producer was impressed with our institution and felt confident that we would have the in-house talent needed to design and install this project,” said Hillary Cooper, Communications and Media Relations Director for the Mint. “This is another shining example of the museum giving back to the community in innovative and meaningful ways.”

Several finalists in the greater Charlotte area were considered for the build, and all were deemed worthy causes. The winning family, the Friday family of Lincolnton, received a knock on their door on Sunday, December 11, from team leader Ty Pennington and the show’s design team. The project has recruited more than 3,000 volunteers, and will be completed in one week. All products and labor are being donated by partnering trades and suppliers.

Kathleen Jameson to lead Museum’s expansion and reinstallation initiatives

The Mint Museum announced today the appointment of Kathleen V. Jameson, Ph.D., as its new Executive Director, following an extensive national search supported by Management Consultants for the Arts and a Board of Trustees search committee. Jameson succeeds Phil Kline, who will remain at the Museum as its President & CEO until his retirement on December 31. Jameson has served as Assistant Director, Programming, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, since 2008 and will assume her new position at the Mint on July 15, 2010.

“We are thrilled with the selection of Kathleen Jameson as our new Executive Director from such a talented pool of candidates,” said Beverly Smith Hance, Chair of The Mint Museum Board of Trustees. “Kathleen comes to us as an experienced and visionary arts leader with the proven skills to build upon the exceptional foundation that the Mint has established under Phil Kline’s direction. The decision that Phil made last year to retire and begin crafting a strategic succession plan will allow the Museum to undergo a smooth transition during this important period. We are grateful for his nine years of remarkable leadership and the lasting impact he leaves on the Charlotte cultural community.”

Jameson joins The Mint Museum at a key time in its history. The Museum is presently involved in a major expansion project, which includes the construction of a new 145,000-square-foot facility opening October 1 in uptown Charlotte and the reinstallation of the historic Mint Museum Randolph. Designed by noted architectural firm Machado & Silvetti of Boston, the Mint Museum Uptown will be part of the Wells Fargo Cultural Campus and will house noted collections of American Art, Contemporary Art and European Art, in addition to the world-renowned collections of the Mint Museum of Craft + Design.

During the transition period, Jameson and Kline will work closely together to achieve the objectives of opening the new facility and planning the reinstallation of the Randolph Road location. Jameson’s duties as Executive Director will include the day-to-day administration of museum affairs, as well as overseeing finance, human resources, curatorial and development initiatives in consultation with Kline. She will assume the title of President & CEO upon Kline’s retirement.

“I am honored to serve as the next Executive Director of The Mint Museum, and to help lead the institution through this extraordinary phase of its distinguished history,” said Jameson. “I have been deeply impressed by the Museum’s staff, leadership, donors and diverse audiences, and share the commitment to excellence that defines the Mint. Phil Kline’s strong leadership has brought the Museum to this exciting threshold, and I look forward to working together to debut the Mint Museum Uptown in October and the Mint Museum Randolph next year. I am excited to be part of the cultural renaissance taking place in Charlotte, and I am eager to begin to advance the leadership position of The Mint Museum in the community and on a national scale.”

Jameson brings a strong combination of curatorial expertise and programming, management and academic experience to the Mint. In her former position as Assistant Director, Programming, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, she directed the architect search and program development for a planned expansion. She previously served as the museum’s Director of Program Support from 2005 to 2008, when she was responsible for raising $15 million in support of development initiatives, and as Curatorial Assistant from 2004 to 2005 and 1998 to 2001, where she organized special and permanent collection exhibitions and conducted research for acquisitions, collections and exhibitions. Prior to her work at the MFAH, Jameson served as Research Associate for the Harold Weston Foundation and the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y., and as Scholar-in-Residence at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

“Kathleen’s curatorial expertise and accomplished track record undoubtedly make her the right person to direct The Mint Museum into a new era,” said Phil Kline. “The Board of Trustees and I have been working carefully on my succession plans over the past 18 months, and I am delighted to welcome such a strong leader to advance our mission. Kathleen will be an outstanding Executive Director, and I am confident that she will lead the Museum and its exceptional staff to new levels of artistic excellence.”
Jameson holds a Ph.D. from the University of Delaware, a Master of Arts degree from the University of Louisville and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently completing her Masters of Business Administration degree at Rice University. An active member of the American Association of Museums, Jameson is co-organizing the Association’s 2011 Annual Meeting in Houston, and last year served as Governance and Nominating Committee co-chair of its Professional Interest Committee on Green Museums.