The Museum of Contemporary Art\Connecticut (MoCA\CT) searched far and wide for a new executive director.
They found her right in their back yard.
Dr. Robin Jaffee Frank — a “cultural visionary,” with decades of museum, academic and public engagement experience, and a longtime Westport resident — takes over on January 1.
MoCA\CT says, “Dr. Frank’s appointment ushers in a new chapter of strategic focus, creative momentum and bold artistic ambition. She will guide the museum into its next phase with a focus on curatorial excellence, operational strength, greater visibility, and deeper community engagement.
MoCA board of directors president Jodi Felton calls Frank “an innovative leader whose strategic expertise will position the museum for long-term success. Her arrival marks the start of a dynamic new era for the institution and the communities we serve.”
Dr. Robin Jaffee Frank
Dr. Frank is no stranger to the Newtown Turnpike institution. She served on its Visual Arts Advisory Committee.
She previously served as chief curator and curator of American art at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, and as a curator at the Yale University Art Gallery. She led exhibitions, managed large curatorial teams, and collaborated with educators, designers, conservators and librarians.
Her award-winning book “Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland, 1861–2008” led to an exhibition that traveled nationally, increased attendance and membership at the Wadsworth Atheneum, and garnered strong grant support, including special designations from the National Endowment for the Humanities for its commitment to inclusion, diversity and public engagement.
Dr. Frank has also taught at the Cooper Union, curated exhibitions and guided programs for the New York Historical Society and Silvermine Arts Center, organized exhibitions at museums throughout the US, lectured extensively, and published widely on American visual culture and its intersections with contemporary issues.
MoCA\CT’s striking building, on Newtown Turnpike.
“MoCA\CT is at a pivotal transitional moment, and I am honored to help shape its future,” says Dr. Frank.
“The Museum has extraordinary potential — to spark dialogue, expand access to the arts, and bring people together. I look forward to collaborating with the board, advisory committees, my new colleagues, and especially the community to build a vibrant, innovative, and sustainable future for this remarkable institution.”
Acting executive director Pamela Hovland will continue to serve on the board, chair the Visual Arts Advisory Committee, and direct the museum’s visual brand identity.
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