Norah Diedrich, Newport Art Museum executive director
As a student of art history and contemporary studio practice, I’ve often confronted the dynamic relationship between old and new.
Since becoming the executive director of the Newport Art Museum two years ago, my arts background has helped guide plans to move our 106-year-old organization forward. It’s a familiar and delicate balance between honoring history and embracing change.
The museum’s most enduring and successful programs at public schools, community centers, hospitals, and in our own art studios and galleries are based on notions set forth by the museum’s founders: Art has the power to inspire, empower, educate and connect community.
In today’s media-saturated age, however, making century-old values requires a re-tooling of our approach. First, we have to update and strengthen the institution through: improvements to the museum campus, creation/further development of partnerships, strengthening of our organizational capacity and increasing the institution’s financial strength.
In a sense, deciding on what to do could be seen as the easy part. Executing on this plan is the larger challenge.
Our weekly staff director meetings focus on strategic issues. Communications have improved both internally and externally. Professional-development opportunities have been expanded. And we make a sincere effort to build genuine camaraderie.
My job in this movement forward is to help the institution remain connected to its past while it is being propelled forward.
Change is inevitable and happening at an increasingly rapid pace. The arts help us come to terms with the unfamiliar through linking people and perspectives across cultures and history.
